GUILLE-ALLES  LIBRARY. 


 4-j.  

Time  Allowed.— This  Book  may  be  kept  14  day?, 
including  the  day  of  issue,  and  may  be  renewed  once,  unless 
required  by  another  borrower.  If  a  renewal  is  desired  the  book 
must  be  returned  to  the  Librarian  for  that  purpose. 

Punctuality  in  Returning  Books  — it  is  not  intended 

to  establish  a  system  of  fines  for  the  detention  of  books 
beyond  the  time  specified  by  the  rules ;  but  it  is  hoped 
borrowers  will  understand  that  any  want  of  punctuality  on  their 
part  in  this  respect,  must  necessarily  cause  disappointment  to 
other  borrowers  who  may  be  waiting  for  books  thus  detained. 

Borrowers'  Tickets  are  not  transferable  ;  and  no  book 
can  be  issued  without  the  ticket,  which  will  be  placed  either 
in  the  book  or  in  the  Indicator,  according  to  the  class  of  book 
required.  Borrowers  returning  books  without  taking  out 
others  at  the  same  time,  must  leave  their  tickets  with  the 
Librarian  until  other  books  are  required. 

The  Indicator. — To  faciliate  the  rapid  issue  of  books  in 
Fiction,  and  save  trouble  and  loss  of  time  to  the  borrower,  it  is 
necessary  that  he  should  consult  the  Indicator,  which  will  show 
at  a  glance  whether  the  required  book  is  in  OR  out. 

Damage  Or  LOSS. — Any  book  lost  must  be  replaced  by 
the  borrower ;  and  any  book  damaged  will  be  charged  for 
according  to  the  injury  it  has  sustained.  It  is  particularly 
requested  that  notice  may  be  given  of  any  scribbling  or  damage 
that  is  perceived  in  any  of  the  books. 

Protection  of  the  Books- — The  books  must  not  be 
entrusted  to  children,  nor  exposed  to  rain  during  their  transit 
to  or  from  the  Library. 

General  Comfort  and  Order —For  the  general  comfort 

and  convenience  of  all  concerned,  borrowers  are  particularly 
requested  not  to  bring  DOGS,  or  to  smoke  pipes  or  cigars  in 
any  part  of  the  building. 

N.B. — The  authorities  confidently  rely  on  those  who  may  use 
the  Library  for  the  careful  protection  of  every  book  from  injury ; 
and  for  the  punctual  observance  of  the  conditions  on  which 
they  are  lent. 


SAMPSON  UM.MARSTON  LOW&SEARLE 
PUBLISHERS  &  IMPORTERS 
CROWN  BUiLOlNCS 

1 8 8. fleet  stre  lt  lon'don, 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2014 


http://archive.org/details/villascottagesOOvaux 


FAMILY  COTTAGE  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS. 


PLAN  OF  PRINCIPAL  FLOOE, 


YILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


A  SERIES  OF 


DESIGNS  PREPARED  FOR  EXECUTION 


UNITED  STATES, 


BY   CALVERT   VAUX,  ARCHITECT, 

110  BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK, 


DOWNING  &  VAUX, 

NEWBURGH,   ON   THE  EUDSOK. 


ILLUSTRATED    BY    370  ENGRAVINGS. 

T'lOKAWN 
FROM  TriC 
GUiLLE-ALLES  B 

NEW  YORK: 
HARPER  &   BROTHERS,  PUBLISHERS, 

FRANKLIN  SQUARE. 

1874. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  sixty-four,  by 

HARPER  &  BROTHERS, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


3  n  0  r  r  i  b  je 

WITH   SINCERE  RESPECT, 

TO 

CAROLINE    E.  DOWNING, 

AND 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  HER  HUSBANQ, 

ANDREW    J,  DOWNING, 


PREFACE. 


VERY  American  who  is  in  the  habit  of  traveling, 
which  is  almost  equivalent  to  saying  every  Amer- 
ican, must  have  noticed  the  inexhaustible  demand  for 
rural  residences  that  is  perceptible  in  every  part  of 
these  Northern  States.  Nothing  like  it  has  ever  yet 
occurred  in  the  world's  history  ;  and  although  hard 
times  undoubtedly  occur  in  America,  as  well  as  else- 
where, at  occasional  intervals,  it  would  seem  that  the 
profits  which  are  missed  by  one  man,  contrive,  some- 
how, to  slide  into  the  pockets  of  other  more  successful 
operators;  for  the  carpenters  and  masons  appear  to  be 
always  getting  a  full  percentage  of  the  floating  capital, 
and  the  ball  is  kept  merrily  rolling  under  all  changes 
of  individual  circumstances. 

Such  being  the  fact,  whatever  may  be  its  philoso- 
phy, it  seems  evident  that  the  season  must  come  when 
the  importance  of  the  whole  subject  of  domestic  arch- 
itecture will  be  fairly  and  fully  recognized.  It  can 
njot  be  possible  that  the  energetic  vitality  which  per- 
vades this  branch  of  home  manufacture  will,  for  any 
great  length  of  time,  remain  satisfied  to  expend  its  in- 
tensity on  meagre,  monotonous,  unartistic  buildings, 
or  that  it  will  continue  to  pay  out  millions  of  dol- 
lars every  year  without  perceiving  the  propriety  of  get- 
ting, habitually,  something  worth  having  for  the  mon- 


X 


PREFACE. 


ey.  In  an  intelligent  age  and  country  like  this,  ugly 
buildings  should  be  the  exception :  not,  as  hitherto,  the 
almost  invariable  rule. 

The  accompanying  designs  have  been  prepared  with- 
in the  last  few  years  to  respond  to  the  varied  require- 
ments of  different  parties  who  have  asked  for  them, 
and  it  is  conceived,  therefore,  that  they  may  possibly 
represent,  to  some  useful  extent,  to  those  who  are 
about  to  build  in  the  country,  the  accommodations 
and  arrangements  for  convenience  that  appertain  to 
such  buildings.  They  are  not  brought  before  the  pub- 
lic as  model  designs,  to  lessen  the  necessity  for  the  ex- 
ercise of  individual  taste,  but,  as  far  as  possible,  to  in- 
crease its  activity.  Such  books  are  needed  as  step- 
ping-stones;  for  no  general  popular  progress  can  be 
made  in  any  art  without  ample  and  cheap  opportuni- 
ties for  comparison  and  criticism  ;  and  the  chief  value 
of  illustrated  works  on  such  topics  as  domestic  archi- 
tecture must  always  lie  in  the  fact  that  they  are  calcu- 
lated to  rouse  into  active  life  the  dormant  capacity  for 
individual  preference,  which  all  possess  more  or  less, 
and  which  is  absolutely  necessary  for  a  just  artistic 
opinion  on  any  subject.  It  is  for  this  reason,  ancl  with 
the  hope  of  being  more  generally  intelligible  and  pop- 
ularly useful,  that  the  engravings  are  arranged,  in  the 
present  volume,  in  a  condensed,  regular  manner,  so 
that  they  may  be  examined  with  little  trouble  and 
with  but  slight  reference  to  the  descriptions ;  the  eye 
thus  being  enabled  to  glance  from  one  to  the  other 
briefly  and  easily. 

In  this  collection  of  studies  there  are  many  marked 
UD.  and  V."  that  have  a  special  interest  as  the  latest 
over  which  the  genial  influence  of  the  lamented  Down- 
ing was  exercised.    Several  of  the  plans  were  in  prog- 


PREFACE.  XI 

ress  when  the  tidings  of  his  sudden  and  shocking 
death  were  mournfully  received  by  his  family  and 
friends,  and  almost  as  mournfully  by  thousands,  who, 
knowing  him  only  through  his  books,  still  felt  that  he 
was  to  them  a  dear  and  intimate  companion.  Mr. 
Downing  was  on  his  way  to  Newport,  to  superintend 
the  execution  of  Mr.  Parish's  villa,  on  the  day  when 
the  loss  of  the  Henry  Clay  in  an  instant  struck  out  his 
name  from  the  roll  of  living  men,  and  thereby  inflict- 
ed an  irreparable  injury  on  his  country ;  for  Andrew 
Jackson  Downing  was  not  only  one  of  the  most  ener- 
getic and  unprejudiced  artists  that  have  yet  appeared  in 
America,  but  his  views  and  aspirations  were  so  lib- 
eral and  pure  that  his  artistic  perceptions  were  chiefly 
valued  by  him  as  handmaids  to  his  higher  and  diviner 
views  of  life  and  beauty.  It  is  for  this  reason  that 
his  loss  is  so  severely  felt;  for  his  character  being 
moulded  on  this  large  scale,  and  his  capacity  to  appre- 
ciate whatever  is  beautiful  in  nature  or  art  being  pro- 
portionately great,  he  had  both  the  will  and  the  power 
to  exercise  a  marked  influence  for  good  over  the  taste 
of  his  countrymen.  He  readily  saw  that  the  contempt 
of  art  which  the  early  Puritans  had  shown  with  the 
best  intentions,  and  which  in  their  age  of  imperfect 
toleration  was  entirely  intelligible,  and  perhaps  nec- 
essary, exists  now  only  as  a  chronic,  unmeaning  prej- 
udice ;  he  also  perceived  that  the  proper  time  had  ar- 
rived for  the  exercise  of  a  better  state  of  feeling,  and 
for  a  general  popular  advance  in  taste,  and  he  ad- 
dressed himself  to  the  furtherance  of  this  good  work 
with  quiet  enthusiasm.  He  used  every  effort  to  break 
down  the  foolish  barrier  that  ignorance  had  set  be- 
tween the  artist  and  the  moralist,  and  strove  to  make 
manifest  in  all  his  works  the  glorious  truth  that  the 


Xll 


PREFACE. 


really  "beautiful11  and  the  really  "good11  are  one. 
This  conviction  is  indeed  the  key-note  to  all  his  teach- 
ings. u  II  hello  e  il  buono"  was  the  motto  engraved  on 
his  seal  and  on  his  life ;  and  the  everyday  increasing 
improvement  that  is  now  visible  in  the  popular  taste, 
so  far  as  regards  the  subjects  on  which  he  wrote,  and 
which  may  be  directly  traced  to  his  books,  is  ample 
evidence  that  his  modest,  earnest  words  must  have 
sunk  gently  and  convincingly  into  the  hearts  of  many 
worthy  readers.  He  was  fortunately  not  a  man  of 
promise  only,  but  of  rich  performance ;  and  although 
cut  off  in  the  very  prime  of  a  hearty,  active,  ever-ex- 
panding life,  he  had  already  lived  and  labored  to  such 
good  purpose  that  he  can  scarcely  be  said  to  have  left 
his  work  unfinished.  He  has  set  his  mark  fairly  and 
broadly  on  the  spirit  of  his  age,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped 
that  the  love  for  grace  and  beauty  that  he  so  vigor- 
ously aroused  in  America  will  in  future  be  always  ad- 
vancing. * 

A  few  of  the  studies  submitted  have  been  made  es- 
pecially for  this  work,  to  illustrate  particular  views ;  but 
the  greater  number  are  reduced  from  working  plans 
of  designs  that  have  been  either  executed  or  prepared 
for  execution,  and  whenever  practicable,  the  particulars 
of  contract  or  expenditure  are  supplied.  Some  of  the 
designs,  it  will  be  observed,  are  marked  UV.  and  W. 

*  Some  time  after  the  loss  of  the  Henry  Clay  a  private  subscription  was  raised 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting,  in  the  grounds  attached  to  the  Smithsonian  Institute 
at  Washington,  some  fitting  memorial  of  Mr.  Downing,  who  was  engaged  by  the 
government,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  carrying  into  execution  a  comprehen- 
sive plan  for  landscape  gardening  that  included  the  Smithsonian  grounds,  and 
also  the  whole  of  the  public  park  proposed  to  connect  the  President's  house  with 
the  Capitol.  The  design  ultimately  determined  on  for  this  memorial,  which  is 
now  being  erected  at  Washington,  on  the  site  appropriated  for  the  purpose,  is  il- 
lustrated by  the  vignette  on  page  xii.  It  is  simply  a  large,  white  marble  vase, 
carefully  modeled  from  a  chaste  but  highly  enriched  antique  example,  and 
mounted  on  an  appropriate  pedestal. 


PREFACE. 


Xlll 


these  were  prepared  during  my  three  years1  partner- 
ship with  Mr.  F.  C.  Withers,  to  whom  I  am  indebted 
for  much  valuable  assistance  in  the  preparation  of  this 
work. 

It  is  not  unfrequently  said  that  architects'  designs 
cost,  in  execution,  more  money  than  their  employers 
are  led,  in  the  first  instance,  to  believe  will  be  neces- 
sary; but  these  assertions  are  for  the  most  part  ill- 
grounded,  and  arise  from  there  being,  here  as  else- 
where, a  class  of  employers  who  profess  to  want  much 
less  than  they  really  require,  and  who  positively  assert 
that  they  need  about  half  of  what  they  are  determined 
to  have.  Such  persons  easily  find  a  corresponding 
class  of  designers,  and,  of  course,  are  always  disap- 
pointed, as  they  richly  deserve  to  be ;  but  reasonable 
men,  who  are  prepared  to  bring  to  the  subject  of  spend- 
ing their  money  the  same  good  sense  that  has  enabled 
them  to  realize  it,  find  no  difficulty  in  arranging  their 
outlay  in  accordance  with  their  wishes.  For  exam- 
ple, some  of  the  houses  in  this  volume  have  been  very 
handsomely  finished,  and  have  cost  not  only  much  more 
than  the  outlay  originally  proposed,  but  much  more 
than  was  necessary  to  complete  them  in  a  simple, 
rural  manner.  In  no  case,  however,  was  the  addi- 
tional expenditure  a  source  of  dissatisfaction  to  the 
parties  interested ;  such  designs  were  carried  out  un- 
der the  immediate  inspection  of  their  owners,  and  the 
desire  for  finish  and  refinement  in  detail  increasing  as 
the  work  proceeded,  these  gentlemen  were  well  satis- 
fied to  enlarge,  by  degrees,  their  original  intention  as 
to  cost.  Some  of  the  plans,  on  the  other  hand,  have 
been  executed  for  the  exact  sums  specified  in  the  con- 
tract ;  in  these  cases  the  proprietor,  having  approved 
of  the  drawings  and  specifications,  has  entirely  ceased 


XIV 


PREFACE. 


to  interfere  in  the  matter,  except  to  pay  the  contract- 
or's instalments  when  they  have  become  due  from  time 
to  time  ;  and  it  may  be  stated,  without  any  hesitation, 
that  there  are  no  insurmountable  barriers  to  exacti- 
tude of  estimate  except  loose  instructions  from  the  em- 
ployer to  his  architect,  and  indefinite  arrangements 
between  the  employer  and  his  mechanics ;  both  of 
which  a  proper  amount  of  care  at  starting  can  readily 
prevent. 


THE  DOWNING  MEMORIAL 

ERECTED  AT 

WASHINGTON. 


PREFACE 


TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 


new  edition  of  this  volume  being  called  for  at  the 


present  time,  the  opportunity  has  been  taken  to 
make  some  slight  changes  and  omissions,  and  to  intro- 
duce a  few  additional  illustrations,  with  the  descriptive 
text  necessary  to  make  them  intelligible ;  but  it  has 
not  been  thought  advisable  to  attempt  any  thing  be- 
yond this,  as  the  work  is  essentially  of  a  fragmentary 
and  transitional  character,  and  it  would  be  impossible, 
with  any  amount  of  labor  in  revision  that  the  author 
could  now  bestow,  to  give  it  a  more  satisfactory  or  per- 
manent form. 

A  thoroughly  comprehensive  text-book  on  the  sub- 
ject of  Rural  Art,  conceived  and  executed  in  the  true 
spirit,  would  be  a  valuable  addition  to  American  liter- 
ature ;  but  gome  time  must,  in  all  probability,  elapse 
before  such  a  work  can  be  successfully  attempted,  and, 
in  the  interim,  its  place  must  be,  to  a  slight  extent, 
supplied  by  works  like  the  present,  that  merely  seek 
to  embody,  in  a  shape  fit  for  general  reference,  the 
thoughts  and  experiences  for  the  time  being  of  indi- 
vidual architects. 

The  six  years  that  have  passed  away  since  this 
work  was  first  published  have  not  been  of  a  character 
to  suggest  any  rapid  advance  in  popular  taste  with 
regard  to  the  fine  arts,  and  yet,  even  during  this  short 
period,  marked  at  its  commencement  by  wide-spread 


xvi 


PREFACE. 


financial  embarrassment,  and  closing  in  the  midst  of  a 
terrible  and  exhausting  civil  war,  some  advance  in  the 
right  direction  seems  to  have  been  made.  There  is  an 
increase  in  the  demand  for  works  of  art  of  a  superior 
class,  and  an  important  social  idea  has  been  developed 
in  the  "Artists'  Receptions11  that  have  now  become  so 
popular.  Large  public  pleasure-grounds,  such  as  the 
Central  Park  and  the  Baltimore  Park,  have  been  suc- 
cessfully established,  an  American  Institute  of  Archi- 
tects has  been  formally  organized,  and  art  papers  of 
some  special  interest,  such  as  the  u  Greek  Lines,11  have 
found  their  way  into  the  current  popular  literature. 

There  is,  on  the  other  hand,  so  far  as  Architecture 
is  concerned,  much  cause  for  discouragement,  and  im- 
mense sums  continue  to  be  lavished  with  careless  in- 
difference on  ugly,  ill-planned  buildings  in  every  part 
of  the  country.  In  the  course  of  the  next  decade, 
however,  some  more  decided  progress  may  be  looked 
for;  and  among  the  refreshing  signs  of  the  present 
time  is  the  fact  that  an  association  of  young  men  has, 
during  the  past  winter,  been  formed  for  the  advance- 
ment of  "Truth  in  Art."  The  members  hold  that  "all 
great  art  results  from  an  earnest  love  of  the  beauty  and 
perfectness  of  God's  creation,  and  is  the  attempt  to  tell 
the  truth  about  it."  They  also  believe  that,  in  all  times 
of  great  art,  there  has  been  a  close  connection  between 
Architecture,  Sculpture,  and  Painting ;  that  Sculpture 
and  Painting,  having  been  first  called  into  being  for 
the  decoration  of  buildings,  have  found  their  highest 
perfection  when  habitually  associated  with  Architect- 
ure ;  that  Architecture  derives  its  greatest  glory  from 
such  association ;  therefore  that  this  union  of  the  arts 
is  necessary  for  the  full  development  of  each.  And 
this  brief  extract  from  their  articles  of  organization  in- 


PREFACE. 


XVll 


dicates  the  spirit  in  which  these  artists  expect  to  work, 
and  is  sufficient  to  show  that  much  good  may  result 
from  their  earnest  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  good  cause 
they  advocate. 

"We  stride  the  river  daily  at  its  spring, 

Nor  in  our  childish  thoughtlessness,  foresee 
What  myriad  vassal  streams  shall  tribute  bring, 
How  like  an  equal  it  shall  greet  the  sea. 

"Oh,  small  beginnings,  ye  are  great  and  strong, 
Based  on  a  faithful  heart  and  weariless  brain  ! 
Ye  build  the  future  fair,  ye  conquer  wrong, 
Ye  earn  the  crown,  and  wear  it  not  in  vain." 
New  York,  March  23d,  1863. 

B 


STUDY  FOR  HiON  TERMINAL,  CENTRAL  PARK,  N.Y. 


CONTENTS. 


PREFACE. 

Remarks  on  the  Employment  of  Architects   ix 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  the  Downing  Memorial  at  Washington   xiv 


PRELIMINARY  CHAPTER. 

On  the  Design,  Construction,  and  Detail  of  Country  Houses. 


25 


VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Village  School-house   25 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Country  Church   118 

DESIGN  No.  1. — (V.  &  W.) 

A  simple  Suburban  Cottage  Study   120 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Log-house  Study   128 

DESIGN  No.  2. 

A  small  rural  Double  Cottage  Study   130 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Hooded  Door  Study  „   132 

DESIGN  No.  3. 

A  Suburban  Cottage  Study   134 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  partially  inclosed  Veranda  Newburgh,  N.  Y   138 

DESIGN  No.  4. 
A  Rural  Cottage  Fishkill,  N.  Y   140 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Rustic  Outbuilding  Newbubgh,  N.  Y   144 


XX  CONTENTS. 


DESIGN  No.  5.— (V.  &  W.) 


A  Suburban  House  Newburgh,  N.  Y 

VIGNETTE- 

Design  for  a  Double  Suburban  House  Study  

DESIGN  No.  6. 

A  Model  Cottage  Study  

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Farm-house  Study  

DESIGN  No.  7. 

A  Cottage  Residence  Goshen,  N.  Y  

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  an  Artist's  Studio  Eondoct,  N.  Y  

DESIGN  No.  8. 

A  small  Country  House  with  Kitchen  "Wing  New-burgh,  N.  Y 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Garden  Outbuilding  Study  

DESIGN  No.  9. 
An  Irregular  Brick  Country  House  Yonkers,  N.  Y  

VIGNETTE. — (V.  &  W.) 
Boat  Landing  in  the  Central  Park  New  York  City 

DESIGN  No.  10.— (V.  &  W.) 

A  Suburban  House  with  Attics  Newburgh,  N.  Y. 

VIGNETTE.  (V.  &  W.) 

Design  for  a  Garden  Fence  Newburgh,  N.  Y. 

DESIGN  No.  11. 

A  nearly  square  Suburban  House  Eondout,  N.  Y  

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Square  House  New  Haven,  Conn 

DESIGN  No.  12. 
An  Irregular  House  without  Wing  Springfield,  Mass 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  small  Country  House  Orange,  N.  J  


CONTENTS.  XXI 

DESIGN  No.  13. 

A  Wooden  Villa  with  Tower  and  without  Attics... Ravens  wood,  N.  Y   192 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Fence  and  Gate  Ravenswood,  N.  Y   196 

DESIGN  No.  14.— (D.  &  V.) 

A  Symmetrical  Country  House  Newburgh,  N.  Y   198 

VIGNETTE.— (D.  &  V.) 
Design  for  a  Coach-house  and  Stable  Newburgh,  N.  Y   202 

DESIGN  No.  15.— (V.  &  W.) 

A  Brick  Villa  with  Tower  and  without  Attics.... Study   201 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  an  Observatory  Middletowtn,  N.  Y   208 

DESIGN  No.  16. 

A  Picturesque  Symmetrical  House  Newburgh,  N.  Y   210 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Suburban  Garden  Newburgh,  N.  Y   211 

DESIGN  No.  17. 

An  Alteration  of  an  Old  House  Newburgh,  N.  Y   216 


VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  altering  a  Common  Cottage  Roof  Newburgh,  N.  Y. 


90O 


DESIGN  No.  18.— (D.  &  V.) 

A  Picturesque  Square  House  Newburgh,  N.  Y    221 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  an  Ornamental  Garden  Newburgh,  N.  Y   230 

DESIGN  No.  19.— (D.  &  V.) 
A  Suburban  Villa  Georgetown,  D.  C   232 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  an  Oak  Mantle-piece  Fishkill,  N.  Y   236 

DESIGN  No.  20.— (D.  &  V.) 

A  Villa  Residence  with  Curved  Roof  Study  238 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Stable  and  Coach-house  Study   244 


xxii 


CONTENTS. 


DESIGN  No.  2 1  .—(V.  &  W.)  PAGE 
An  Irregular  Wooden  Country  House  Worcester,  Mass   246 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Gable  Termination  Newburgh,  N.  Y   250 

DESIGN  No.  22.— (D.  &  V.) 
A  Suburban  House  with  Curved  Roof  Newburgh,  N.  Y   252 

VIGNETTE. — (D.  &  V.) 
Design  for  a  Dormer-window  Newburgh,  N.  Y   25G 

DESIGN  No.  23. 

A  simple  Picturesque  Country  House  Moodna,  N.  Y   253 

VIGNETTE.  (V.  &  W.) 

Design  for  a  small  Rural  Cottage  New  Windsor,  N.  Y   268 

DESIGN  No.  24.— (V.  &  W.) 

An  Irregular  Brick  Villa  Study   270 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Chimney  with  Ventilating  Flues  Staatsburg,  N.  Y   274 

DESIGN  No.  25.— (V.  &  W.) 

A  Suburban  House  with  Curvilinear  Roof.  Study   276 

VIGNETTE.  (V.  &  W.) 

Design  for  a  Square  House  Study   280 

DESIGN  No.  26. 

A  Wooden  Villa  with  Tower  and  Attics  Study   282 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  an  Entrance-gate  and  Piers  Newburgh,  N.  Y   286 

DESIGN  No.  27. 

Family  Cottage  in  the  Mountains  Study  Frontispiece. 

VIGNETTE. 

Rustic  Bridge  Central  Park,  N.  Y   28S 

DESIGN  No.  28.— (F.  C  W.j 

Stone  Country  House  with  Brick  Dressings  Clinton  Point,  N.  Y   291 

VIGNETTE. 

Shaded  Seats  Central  Park,  N.  Y   292 


CONTENTS. 

DESIGN  No.  29. 
Wooden  Villa  with  Curved  Roof  Greenwich,  Conn 

VIGNETTE. 

Square  Villa  with  Curved  Roof  Staatsburg,  N.  Y 

DESIGN  No.  30.— (D.&  V.) 
A  Villa  of  Brick  and  Stone  Study  


VIGNETTE. 

Designs  for  Window-hoods  Study  

DESIGN  No.  31. 

Ficturesque  Stone  Country  House  Staatsburg,  N.  Y 

VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Farm  Cottage  Staatsburg,  N.  Y. 

DESIGN  No.  32. 
An  Irregular  Villa  without  Wing  Study  


VIGNETTE. 

Design  for  a  Boat-house  Study. 


DESIGN  No.  33.— (V.  &  W.) 

A  Picturesque  Villa  with  Wing  and  Attics  Study  

VIGNETTE.  (V.  &  W.) 

Design  for  the  Kitchen.  Wing  Study  


DESIGN  No.  34— (V.  &  W.) 

A  Town  House  ,  New  York  City 

VIGNETTE. — (V.  &  W.) 
Design  for  a  roomy  Country  House  Study  


DESIGN  No.  35— (D.  &  V.) 
A  Marine  Villa  Newtort,  R.  I. 

VIGNETTE. — (D.  &  V.) 

Design  for  a  Coach-house  and  Stable  Newport,  R.  I. 


DESIGN  No.  36. 
Irregular  Stone  Villa  Highbridge,  N.  Y 

VIGNETTE. 

Coach-house  and  Stable  Highbridge,  N.  Y 


xxiv 


CONTENTS. 


DESIGN  No.  37— (D.  &  V.)  PAQE 
An  Irregular  Stone  Villa  with  Tower  Study   336 

VIGNETTE.  (V.  &  W.) 

Design  for  a  small  Country  House  Study   340 

DESIGN  No.  38. 
Marine  Villa  with  Tower  Newport,  E.  1   342 

VIGNETTE. 

Coach-house  and  Stable  Newport,  R.  1   344 

DESIGN  No.  39.— (D.  &  V.) 
A  Villa  on  a  large  Scale  Study   346 

VIGNETTE.  (V.  &  W.) 

Design  for  a  Grave-stone  Newburgh,  N.  Y   348 


ma 


fife. 


FRESBYTEEIAN  CIIUBCH,  NEWBUBGH.     F.  C.  WITBEBS,  ARCHITECT. 


VILLAGE  SCIIOOL. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


A  LTHOUGH  there  is  a  cheering  prospect  for  Amer- 
"^v^  ican  architecture  in  the  good  time  coming,  its  pres- 
ent appearance  is  in  many  ways  far  from  satisfactory. 
Over  the  length  and  breadth  of  this  country  are  scat- 
tered cities  and  villages  by  thousands,  and  public  and 
private  edifices  innumerable ;  and  yet  we  may  fairly 
say,  There  are  the  buildings,  but  where  is  the  architect- 
ure? There  is  the  matter,  but  where  is  the  manner? 
There  is  the  opportunity,  but  where  is  the  agreeable 
result  ?  Is  it  in  the  churches  ?  A  few  really  creditable 
specimens  may  be  pointed  out,  but  the  large  majority 
are  unquestionably  deficient  in  truthful  dignity  and 
artistic  beauty.  Is  it  in  the  public  buildings  ?  Several 
fine  works  of  art  may  at  once  occur  to  the  mind,  and 
although  a  floating  doubt  somewhat  questions  the 
Americanism  of  their  expression,  still,  as  they  are  no- 
bly conceived  and  do  not  shrink  from  the  ordeal  of  the 
artist's  pencil,  it  is  granted  that  they  are  successful. 
Then  comes  the  question  of  the  great  majority  again. 


26 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


Does  the  memory  linger  with  pleasure  over  the  remi- 
niscences of  a  provincial  tour,  and  delight  to  recall 
the  pleasant  impression  left  on  the  mind  by  each  elm- 
shaded  town,  with  its  tasteful  hall,  school-houses,  li- 
brary, theatre,  museum,  banks,  baths,  courts  of  jus- 
tice, and  other  buildings  cheerfully  erected  and  grace- 
fully arranged  by  its  free  and  enlightened  inhabitants 
— for  their  own  use  and  pleasure,  of  course,  but  with 
a  wise  regard  for  mutual  advantage  and  individual  en- 
joyment, that  insures  the  sympathy  of  every  passing 
stranger ;  the  more  readily,  too,  as  each  discovers  that 
he,  even  he,  has  been  thought  of,  and  that  some  study 
has  been  expended  to  give  him  pleasure  ?  No,  this  is 
not  the  result  to  be  looked  for  at  present.  Does  the 
secret  of  beauty  lie  in  the  private  buildings,  the  stores, 
the  warehouses,  the  mansions,  the  villas,  the  hotels, 
the  streets,  or  the  cottages?  There  are  probably  as 
magnificent  hotels  and  stores  in  the  large  cities  of 
America  as  any  where  in  the  world.  Architecture, 
within  the  last  ten  years,  has  managed  to  get  a  genu- 
ine foothold  in  this  department  of  building ;  it  has  be- 
gun to  pay,  and  that  is  an  excellent  sign,  and  one  that 
offers  food  for  reflection  and  solid  encouragement ;  yet 
it  is  the  few  and  not  the  many,  even  here,  that  speak 
of  refinement,  and  a  love  of  grace,  which  is  as  averse  to 
meretricious  display  as  it  is  to  ungainly  awkwardness. 
Among  the  private  residences  a  great  number  are  ex- 
cellent ;  but  still  the  mass  are  unsatisfactory  in  form, 
proportion,  color,  and  light  and  shade.  "What  is  the 
reason  of  all  this  ?  Why  is  there  comparatively  so  lit- 
tle beauty  in  American  buildings?  Some  will  say 
America  is  a  dollar-loving  country,  without  taste  for 
the  arts ;  others,  that  expense  is  the  obstacle,  and  that 
the  republican  simplicity  of  America  can  not  afford 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


27 


the  luxury  of  good  architecture.    The  latter  of  these 
solutions  is  clearly  incorrect,  for  it  is  knowledge,  and 
not  money,  that  is  the  chief  source  of  every  pleasura- 
ble emotion  that  may  be  caused  by  a  building.  In- 
deed a  simple,  well-planned  structure  costs  less  to  exe- 
cute, for  the  accommodation  obtained,  than  an  ill- 
planned  one ;  and  the  fact  of  its  being  agreeable  and 
effective,  or  otherwise,  does  not  depend  on  any  orna- 
ment that  may  be  superadded  to  the  useful  and  neces- 
sary forms  of  which  it  is  composed,  but  on  the  arrange- 
ment of  those  forms  themselves,  so  that  they  may  bal- 
ance each  other  and  suggest  the  pleasant  ideas  of  har- 
monious proportion,  fitness,  and  agreeable  variety  to 
the  eye,  and  through  the  eye  to  the  mind.    All  this  is 
simply  a  matter  of  study  before  building,  not  of  addi- 
tional cost  in  building.     The  other  solution  of  the 
problem,  that  Americans  do  not  appreciate  the  beau- 
tiful, and  do  not  care  for  it  or  value  it,  is  a  more  spe- 
cious but  equally  erroneous  one.    There  are,  doubtless, 
many  obstructions  that  have  hindered,  and  do  hinder, 
the  development  of  correct  taste  in  the  United  States. 
The  spring,  however,  is  by  no  means  dry,  although 
these  obstacles  prevent  its  waters  from  flowing  freely ; 
and  there  is,  in  fact,  no  real  difficulty  that  earnestness 
and  ordinary  patience  may  not  overcome.    One  im- 
portant evidence  of  a  genuine  longing  for  the  beauti- 
ful may  be  at  once  pointed  out.    Almost  every  Ameri- 
can has  an  equally  unaffected,  though  not,  of  course, 
an  equally  appreciative,  love  for  "the  country. "  This 
love  appears  intuitive,  and  the  possibility  of  ease  and 
a  country  place  or  suburban  cottage,  large  or  small,  is 
a  vision  that  gives  a  zest  to  the  labors  of  industrious 
thousands.    This  one  simple  fact  is  of  marked  import- 
ance ;  it  shows  that  there  is  an  innate  homage  to  the 


28 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


natural  in  contradistinction  to  the  artificial — a  prefer- 
ence for  the  works  of  God  to  the  works  of  man  ;  and  no 
matter  what  passing  influences  may  prevent  the  per- 
fect working  of  this  tendency,  there  it  exists  ;  and  with 
all  its  town-bred  incongruities  and  frequently  absurd 
shortcomings,  it  furnishes  a  valuable  proof  of  inherent 
good,  true,  and  healthy  taste.  Moreover,  the  greater 
includes  the  less.  An  actual  love  for  nature,  however 
crude  it  may  be,  speaks  clearly  of  a  possible  love  for  art. 

Till  within  a  comparatively  recent  period  the  fine  arts 
in  America  have  been  considered  by  the  great  bulk  of 
the  population  as  pomps  and  vanities  so  closely  con- 
nected with  superstition,  popery,  or  aristocracy,  that 
they  must  be  eschewed  accordingly,  and  the  result  is 
not  altogether  undesirable,  though  it  has  appeared  to 
retard  the  advance  of  refinement  and  civilization.  The 
awakening  spirit  of  republicanism  refused  to  acknowl- 
edge the  value  of  art  as  it  then  existed,  a  tender  hot- 
house plant  ministering  to  the  delights  of  a  select  few. 
The  democratic  element  rebelled  against  this  idea  in 
toto,  and  tacitly,  but  none  the  less  practically,  de- 
manded of  art  to  thrive  in  the  open  air,  in  all  weath- 
ers, for  the  benefit  of  all,  if  it  was  worth  any  thing,  and 
if  not,  to  perish  as  a  troublesome  and  useless  encum- 
brance. This  was  a  severe  course  to  take,  and  the  ef- 
fects are  every  where  felt.  But,  after  all,  it  had  truth 
on  its  side ;  and  candor  must  allow  that  no  local,  par- 
tial, class-recognizing  advance  in  art,  however  individ- 
ually valuable  its  examples  might  have  been,  could,  in 
reality,  have  compensated  for  the  disadvantage  that 
would  have  attended  it.  Now,  every  step  in  advance, 
slow  though  it  be,  is  a  real  step  taken  by  the  whole 
country.  When  we  look  at  the  ruins  of  old  Rome,  we 
say,  What  a  great  people !  what  temples !  what  mighty 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


29 


works !  and  undoubtedly  Rome  was  really  great  in  in- 
dividuals ;  very  great  in  a  strong  and  clever  minority, 
who  spent  with  marked  ability  the  labor  of  the  weak 
and  ignorant  majority;  but  the  plebs,  the  unlettered, 
unthought-of  common  people,  the  million,  were  not 
great,  nor  were  they  taught  to  be  so,  and  therefore 
Rome  fell. 

During  the  last  hundred  years  there  has  been  a  con- 
tinuous effort  to  give  to  the  American  million  the  rudi- 
ments of  self-reliant  greatness,  to  abolish  class  legisla- 
tion, and  to  sink  the  importance  of  individuals.  u  Ant 
America  aut  nullns" — "America  or  no  one"  has  been, 
is,  and  will  probably  ever  be  the  practical  motto.  It  is 
not  surprising,  then,  that  the  advancement  in  the  arts 
has  been  somewhat  less  rapid  than  the  progress  in 
commercial  prosperity  and  political  importance.  The 
conditions  were  new,  and,  it  must  be  confessed,  rather 
hard.  Continuous  ease  and  leisure  readily  welcome 
art,  while  constant  action  and  industry  require  time  to 
become  acquainted  with  its  merits.  To  the  former,  it 
may  be  a  parasite  and  yet  be  supported ;  to  the  latter, 
it  must  be  a  friend  or  nothing.  The  great  bulk  of 
money  that  is  laid  out  on  building  in  the  United  States 
belongs  to  the  active  workers,  and  is  spent  by  them 
and  for  them.  The  industrious  classes,  therefore,  de- 
cide the  national  standard  of  architectural  taste. 

The  question  then  occurs,  How  is  this  universal  taste 
to  be  improved  ?  There  is  the  sound,  healthy  material, 
unprejudiced,  open  to  conviction,  with  a  real  though 
not  thoroughly  understood  desire  for  what  is  good  and 
true — there  is  plenty  of  prosperity  and  opportunity, 
plenty  of  money  and  industry,  plenty  of  every  thing 
but  education  and  the  diffusion  of  knowledge.  This 
language  may  seem  inapplicable  to  America,  to  whom 


30 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


humanity  is  indebted  for  the  successful  introduction  of 
the  common  school  system,  which  lies  at  the  root  of 
every  healthy  idea  of  reform  now  at  work  in  the  world, 
but  is,  nevertheless,  true.  The  genius  of  American  art 
may,  with  justice,  say  of  the  genius  of  American  edu- 
cation : 

"If  she  be  not  so  to  me, 
What  care  I  how  fair  she  be !" 

Education  must  be  liberal  and  comprehensive  as  well 
as  universal  and  cheap,  or  the  result  will  remain  in- 
complete. To  secure  any  thing  permanently  satisfac- 
tory in  the  matter  of  architecture,  professors  of  abil- 
ity, workmen  of  ability,  and  an  appreciative,  able  pub- 
lic are  necessary.  It  would  seem  that  the  architects 
practicing  in  America  are  not  at  present,  in  the  ma- 
jority of  cases,  born  or  bred  in  the  United  States. 
They  have,  therefore,  to  learn  and  unlearn  much  before 
the  spirit  instilled  into  their  designs  can  be  truly  and 
genuinely  American.  There  is  no  good  reason  now 
why  this  state  of  affairs  should  continue.  Architect- 
ure is  a  profession  likely  to  be  in  considerable  request 
here  for  several  hundred  years  at  least,  and  the  de- 
mand is  steadily  increasing.  Why,  then,  should  not 
parents  speculate  for  their  sons  in  this  line?  Why 
should  not  the  article,  as  it  is  for  home  consumption, 
be  raised  at  home?  It  is  an  honorable  calling;  not 
certainly  offering  such  splendid  fortunes  as  the  mer- 
chant may  realize,  but  it  is  a  fair  opening,  and  the 
only  capital  that  it  requires,  beyond  brains  and  indus- 
try, is  the  expense  for  books  and  an  education.  When 
a  fair  share  of  Young  America  enters  upon  this  study 
heart  and  soul,  as  a  means  of  earning  an  independent 
position,  we  may  expect  a  rapid,  natural  development 
of  the  architectural  resources  of  the  country,  and  that 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


31 


the  present  meagre  facilities  for  artistic  education  will 
be  gradually  increased ;  the  schools  and  colleges,  also, 
will  probably  be  induced,  after  a  time,  to  include  in 
their  course  of  study  subjects  calculated  to  discover 
and  foster,  in  the  rising  generation,  such  natural  gifts 
as  have  a  bearing  on  these  and  similar  matters. 

To  insure  workmen  of  ability,  a  reasonable  chance 
to  improve  is  the  chief  thing  wanted.  So  long  as  the 
general  demand  is  for  monotonous,  commonplace,  ste- 
reotyped work,  the  average  of  ability  will  necessarily 
be  low ;  but  with  opportunity,  good,  cheap,  illus- 
trated works,  and  a  spirited  weekly  paper  devoted  to 
the  special  discussion  of  the  subjects  interesting  to  arch- 
itects, engineers,  carpenters,  masons,  and  all  the  other 
trades  connected  with  building — a  paper  that  would 
diffuse  sound  theoretical  and  practical  information  on 
the  art  in  general  and  in  detail  throughout  the  whole 
country,  the  advance  would  be  rapidly  felt ;  for  wher- 
ever there  is  an  American,  there  at  least,  be  he  rich 
or  poor,  is  a  reader,  a  thinker,  and  an  actor.  Self- 
supporting  schools  of  design  for  painters,  decorators, 
modelers,  carvers,  paper-stainers,  etc.,  must  follow  in 
due  course,  for  the  positiveness  of  the  need  would  soon 
become  evident,  and  the  object  would  then  be  almost 
gained.  With  reference  to  the  appreciative  and  able 
public,  the  press  is  the  improving  power  that  is  to  be 
mainly  looked  to.  Cheap  popular  works  on  architect- 
ure in  all  its  bearings,  popular  lectures,  popular  en- 
gravings— and  hundreds  of  them,  and  yet  all  good — 
these  are  the  simple,  truthful,  and  effective  means  that 
are  to  influence  the  public,  by  supplying  a  medium 
through  which  it  may  see  clearly,  and  thus  be  led  to 
criticise  freely,  prefer  wisely,  and  act  judiciously. 
Every  year  offers  proofs  of  an  advancing  interest  in 


32 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


this  subject,  and  shows  an  increasing  desire  to  respond 
to  it  in  newspapers,  magazines,  books,  etc.,  while  the 
public  is  certainly  not  slow  to  buy  and  read. 

The  truth  is,  not  that  America  is  a  dollar-worship- 
ing country,  with  a  natural  incapacity  to  enjoy  the 
arts,  but  a  dollar-making  country,  with  restricted  op- 
portunities for  popular,  artistic  education,  as  yet;  but 
when  this  want  is  freely  ministered  to,  in  the  spirit 
that  it  may  be,  and  it  is  hoped  will  be,  ere  long,  there 
is  every  reason  to  conjecture  that  correct  architectural 
taste  may  be  as  generally  diffused  throughout  the 
United  States  as  we  at  present  find  the  idea  of  a  re- 
publican form  of  government.  We  shall  then  hope  for 
genuine  originality  as  well  as  intrinsic  beauty  in  Amer- 
ican buildings  ;  and  this  interesting  subject  of  original- 
ity is,  perhaps,  worthy  of  a  separate  analysis  and  con- 
sideration. 


In  the  United  States  it  would  seem  that  diversities 
of  style  and  strong  contrasts  of  architectural  design 
are  a  perfectly  natural  occurrence,  when  we  take  into 
account  the  early  history  of  the  nation  and  the  circum- 
stances under  which  it  sprung  into  its  present  promi- 
nent position.  Differences  of  manner  should,  therefore, 
be  contemplated  without  any  troublesome  sense  of  in- 
consistency being  awakened,  for  such  a  charge  would 
hardly  apply  with  justice  to  results  so  clearly  inevita- 
ble. The  art  of  building  faithfully  portrays  the  social 
history  of  the  people  to  whose  needs  it  ministers,  but 
can  not  get  beyond  those  boundaries.  We  must  re- 
member, therefore,  that  principles  of  action,  percep- 
tions, convictions,  habits  of  thought,  and  customs  are 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES.  33 

the  directors  of  all  architectural  design,  and  that 
wherever  and  however  it  may  exist,  it  is  one  of  sev- 
eral national  exponents,  not  an  independent  affair  with 
a  cut-and-dried  theoretical  existence.  Good  architect- 
ure of  some  kind  must  spring  up  in  any  society  where 
there  is  a  love  of  truth  and  nature,  and  a  generally 
diffused  spirit  of  politeness  in  the  ordinary  habits  of 
thought.  Wherever,  on  the  other  hand,  there  is  a 
wide-spread  carelessness  as  to  the  development  of  the 
refined  and  gentle  perceptive  faculties,  there  inevita- 
bly must  be  a  monotonously  deficient  standard  of  ex- 
istence, and  very  paltry  architecture  as  a  necessary  con- 
sequence ;  for  the  senses  being  deadened  by  inaction  or 
abuse,  poor  seeing,  hearing,  smelling,  tasting,  and  feel- 
ing, naturally  result,  and  are  reflected  in  the  art  of 
building,  which  exists  entirely  by  supplying  the  de- 
mands of  the  bodily  organs,  and  always  shows  wheth- 
er they  are  vulgar,  uncontrolled  masters,  galled  serfs, 
or  gay,  active  workmen.  It  is,  moreover,  an  art  so 
constantly  before  us,  in  some  form  or  other,  that  it 
can  not  help  being  a  friend  or  enemy  to  the  improve- 
ment of  civilized  beings  all  the  days  of  their  lives. 

The  individuality  of  the  American  people  does  not 
appear  to  depend  extensively  on  derivation  or  tradi- 
tion, but  on  the  character  of  the  institutions  by  which 
it  is  surrounded,  and  on  the  elasticity  of  action  that 
ensues.  It  is  a  people  composed  of  many  differing 
elements,  but  these  are  all  exposed  to  a  fusing  power 
so  strong,  and  so  incessantly  at  work,  that  a  single  gen- 
eration is  often  sufficient  to  bring  into  marked  promi- 
nence the  latent  sentiments  and  springs  of  action  that 
constitute  the  individual  part  of  the  national  charac- 
ter. The  settler  may,  to  the  last,  be  somewhat  di- 
vided in  his  opinions,  but  the  settlers  son  is  sure  to 

C 


34 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


be  an  American,  as  far  as  politics  are  concerned,  al- 
though at  this  point  the  active  influence  on  him  of 
the  new  country  may  appear  to  cease,  leaving  social 
assimilation  to  come  about  much  more  slowly. 

Each  of  the  European  nations  that  have  contributed 
to  the  population  of  this  country,  has,  in  its  religious 
and  domestic  character,  distinctive  peculiarities  and 
preferences,  harmless  in  themselves,  so  far  as  others 
are  concerned,  and  of  comparatively  private  interest. 
These  take  their  chance  of  life  in  the  new  country  un- 
molested. The  press  having,  of  course,  a  gradual  in- 
fluence over  them,  while  the  national  habit  of  travel- 
ing, by  offering  opportunities  for  tacit  observation  and 
change  of  opinion,  without  loss  of  self-complacency,  is 
constantly  at  work  rubbing  down  the  rough  edges  of 
egotism,  and  rounding  off  the  hard  angles  of  prejudice. 
This  influence  every  day  enlarges  its  sphere  of  action, 
and  will,  doubtless,  help  a  good  deal  to  clear  away  the 
obstructions  that  at  present  hamper  the  social  progress 
of  the  spirit  of  republicanism.  Here  lies  the  root  of 
the  matter ;  for  whenever  this  spirit  is  permitted  to 
flow  freely  into  its  natural  channels,  without  being 
dammed  up  into  an  exclusive  political  mill-stream, 
it  must  lead  to  considerable  social  unity,  and  we  may 
then,  but  not  till  then,  look  for  the  exercise  of  a  power 
of  fusion  in  manners  and  arts  equal  in  its  grasp  to  the 
one  now  almost  omnipotent  in  politics. 

The  religious  convictions  of  every  country  have, 
necessarily,  a  highly  important  influence  over  its  so- 
cial advancement ;  and  America,  so  far  as  art  is  con- 
cerned, has  received,  till  lately,  nothing  but  blows  from 
this  quarter.  Meagre  sectarianism  and  private  intol- 
erance, under  the  names  of  religious  freedom  and  uni- 
versal toleration,  have  been  serious  drawbacks.  How- 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


35 


ever,  the  respect  hitherto  -paid  to  mere  formalism  is 
now  on  the  wane,  and  something  more  life-like  is  de- 
manded— loudly  at  intervals,  silently  always.  Besides 
the  generally  prejudicial  effect  that  has  thus  been  pro- 
duced, there  exists,  here  and  there,  a  more  distinct  op- 
position to  artistic  grace  and  elegance  on  the  ground 
that  they  are  useless  luxuries ;  but  this  sentiment  is 
so  impious,  and  the  punishment  daily  inflicted  on  it 
is  so  sad,  that  it  ought  to  be  thoroughly  exploded. 
Every  sect  agrees  that  there  can  be  but  one  Creator, 
therefore  all  our  created  organs,  sensations,  and  capac- 
ities must  emanate  from  this  fountain-head,  and  be  in- 
tended for  use ;  for  if  they  have  another  source,  there 
must  be  two  first  causes ;  and  if  they  are  not  intended 
for  use,  the  power  exercised  in  their  construction  must 
be  absurdly  employed.  Of  course,  either  of  these  asser- 
tions would  be  highly  irreverent  The  fact  is,  that  the 
evil  influence  at  work  in  the  world  can  mar  many 
things,  but  make  nothing ;  it  can  invert  opportunity, 
misapply  means,  overdo  or  leave  undone,  and  thus 
produce  unpleasant,  because  unnatural  results,  but  it 
can  originate  absolutely  nothing:  all  its  lying  is 
spoiled  truth,  all  its  ugliness  spoiled  beauty;  it  can 
not  help  being  in  every  instance  secondary  and  nega- 
tive: therefore,  the  moment  we  arrive  at  any  thing 
so  distinctly  positive  as  a  sensation  or  perception,  we 
may  know  at  once  that  it  is  irrational  on  any  pre- 
tended ground  of  morality  to  "hide  the  talent,"  or  op- 
pose its  healthy  exercise.  Earnest  vitality  is  the  so- 
cial and  artistic  need  in  America.  Every  good  thing, 
originality  included,  may  be  anticipated  from  that,  for 
wherever  it  exists  it  bears  fruit  a  hundred-fold;  and 
the  results  of  its  influence  on  commerce  show  what 
may  be  expected  when  it  pulsates  as  vigorously  in  the 


36 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


heart  as  in  the  pocket  of  this  great  republic.  Cash 
will  then  assume  its  proper  position,  and  money-spend- 
ing will  become  the  test  of  a  man's  ability  instead  of 
money-making.  The  arts  generally,  and  architecture 
particularly,  may  then  look  with  confidence  for  a  bet- 
ter, because  more  natural  era.  It  is  not  uncommon 
to  hear  it  asserted,  without  much  dissatisfaction,  that 
in  America  one  generation  makes  a  fortune,  the  next 
squanders  it,  and  the  third  or  fourth,  beginning  afresh, 
at  the  lowest  round  of  the  ladder,  amasses,  by  perse- 
vering industry,  a  new  store  of  wealth,  which  is  again 
run  through  as  before.  This  melancholy  fact  is  sup- 
posed by  some  to  be  agreeably  connected  with  the  abo- 
lition of  the  law  of  primogeniture,  or  the  healthy  ac- 
tion of  political  freedom  and  equality ;  whereas  it  is 
entirely  contrary  to  the  progressive  spirit  of  true  re- 
publicanism, and  exists  as  a  wholly  unsatisfactory  re- 
sult of  sheer  neglect,  ignorance,  and  waste.  It  has 
been  reiterated  over  and  over  again,  and  tends  to  en- 
courage the  very  incorrect  and  crude  notion  that  a  man, 
to  be  worth  any  thing,  must  begin  with  nothing,  and 
make  his  own  way  by  dogged  perseverance  at  one  idea 
for  twelve  or  fourteen  hours  a  day,  through  a  series 
of  years.  Now,  although  such  a  man  will  probably 
be  successful  (for  it  would  be  hard  if  he  were  to  miss 
his  i 'pile, '!  considering  the  sacrifice  that  has  been  made 
for  it),  yet  money,  being  only  condensed  mechanical 
labor,  can  neither  buy  the  capacity  to  enjoy  the  work 
it  represents,  nor  the  wisdom  to  spend  one  cent  well. 
This  is  another  affair  altogether,  depending  on  the  ex- 
ercise of  a  natural  birth-right  that  may  easily  enough 
be  parted  with,  but  which  it  really  seems  poor  policy 
to  sell  for  a  mere  mess  of  dollars.  Industry,  energy, 
and  perseverance  make  excellent  servants,  and  deserve 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


37 


the  respect  due  to  good  tools  when  sensibly  exerted; 
but  the  unconditional  acceptance  of  the  stereotyped 
idea  that  man  is  a  hack,  and  life  a  tread-mill,  is  cer- 
tainly no  mark  of  either  wisdom  or  virtue. 

There  can  not,  indeed,  be  a  more  unpleasant  specta- 
cle than  to  see  active,  intelligent  men,  with  long  faces 
and  knit  brows,  incessantly  sacrificing  time,  health, 
home,  and  peace  of  mind  to  the  one  old  u  Moloch" — 
business,  as  if  perpetual  imprisonment  were  too  good 
for  reprobates,  and  business  must,  therefore,  be  con- 
verted into  a  portable  bastille  for  the  use  of  honest 
men.  Every  father,  whatever  may  be  his  position  in 
life,  should  undoubtedly  use  his  best  endeavors  to  en- 
rich his  children,  but  not  chiefly  with  money.  He 
should  rather  aim  to  start  each  one  from  a  higher 
point  of  industrious,  liberal  civilization  than  he  him- 
self commenced  at,  and  strive  to  relieve  him  from  the 
difficulties  that  obstructed  his  own  path.  The  exer- 
cise of  such  a  spirit  of  foresight  and  progress  would 
soon  lead  to  artistic  results  worthy  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  It  is  worth  remembering,  too,  that  no  occu- 
pation need  be  undignified,  no  labor  graceless.  Adam 
worked  as  a  gardener,  Franklin  as  a  printer,  Paul  as 
a  rope-maker,  ^Esop  as  a  slave  of  all  work,  and  J esus 
Christ,  at  whose  name  it  is  said  that  every  knee  shall 
bow,  as  a  carpenter.  It  is  clear,  therefore,  that  hard, 
manual  labor  is  in  no  way  removed  from  the  highest 
developments  of  social  philosophy  and  intellectual  ad- 
vancement. Every  artisan,  cultivator,  or  trader,  may, 
if  he  think  fit,  not  only  be  an  honest,  industrious  re- 
publican, but  a  thoughtful,  noble,  and  refined  worker. 
All  is  within  his  easy  reach.  He  has  but  to  put  forth 
his  hand  and  pluck  the  fruit.  The  tree  that  bears  it 
was  planted  by  his  ancestors,  and  is  now  daily  tended, 


38 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


though  perhaps  unconsciously,  by  himself;  and  this 
wide-spread  appreciation  of  the  possibilities  that  are 
within  reach  of  every  class,  this  all-encircling  civili- 
zation, or  an  approximation  to  it,  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary before  art  can  take  another  healthy  stride  in  ad- 
vance. Galvanized  action  is  worthless,  however  smart- 
ly it  may  be  got  up  ;  there  must  be  genuine  life-blood 
flowing  through  all  the  members,  freely  and  vigorous- 
ly, or  nothing  good  will  be  achieved ;  for  the  whole  is 
made  up  of  all  its  parts,  and  the  parts  of  architecture, 
for  instance,  are,  practically,  the  trades  directly  con- 
nected with  it.  The  resources,  therefore,  of  each  of 
these  must  be  well  developed  in  detail  before  a  really 
complete  result  can  be  arrived  at.  It  is,  moreover, 
well  worth  while  to  consider  the  large  number  of  pur- 
suits connected  with  this  art.  All  the  quarry-workers, 
lime-burners,  brick-makers,  lumber-merchants,  glass- 
manufacturers,  sawyers,  masons,  stone-cutters,  plaster- 
ers, carpenters,  joiners,  tin-men,  gas-fitters,  plumbers, 
glaziers,  iron-mongers,  painters,  carvers,  gilders,  mod- 
elers, decorators,  architects,  live  by  the  constant  de- 
mand for  the  exercise  of  this  art  of  building;  and 
whatever  may  be  the  pressure  from  without,  it  is  only 
as  these  trades  improve  that  the  art  improves. 

In  this  country  the  wages  of  mechanics  are  good, 
and  it  is  to  be  wished  that  they  may  ever  remain  so ; 
but  it  is  n,ot  equally  desirable  that  the  style  of  labor 
performed  for  those  wages  shall  continue  the  same. 
On  the  other  hand,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  and  reasonably, 
when  the  subject  becomes  one  of  steady  public  interest, 
that  the  intelligence,  skill,  and  taste  of  mechanics  may 
be  constantly  heightened  and  improved,  so  that  in  time 
to  come  average  ability  may  do  easily  and  cheaply 
what  is  now  considered  superior  out-of-the-way  work. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


39 


All  would  be  the  gainers  and  none  the  losers  by  this 
advancement ;  for  without  the  increase  of  wages  each 
man  would  be  able,  with  the  same  amount  of  personal 
effort  as  formerly,  to  purchase  from  his  neighbor  more 
positively  valuable  results.  It  is  palpably  evident, 
indeed,  that  a  high  standard  of  life  can  be  quite  easily 
attained  by  the  working-classes  in  America,  that  is  to 
say,  by  all  whose  circumstances  render  it  necessary 
that  they  should  do  something  for  a  living.  Still 
there  is  another  section  of  the  community  to  be  pro- 
vided for — the  born  rich.  Individuals  in  this  predic- 
ament, in  some  parts  of  the  world,  have  a  gratifying 
position  at  once  accorded  them  on  account  of  their 
property,  but  this  is  far  from  being  the  case  in  Amer- 
ica. There  is  a  great  deal  of  toil  and  consequent 
wealth  in  the  United  States ;  still,  it  is  money-mak- 
ing, not  money  made,  that  commands  respect.  The 
science  of  spending  is  imperfectly  understood,  and  the 
unsatisfactory  results  are  apparent  enough ;  but  the 
idea  of  a  moneyed  aristocracy  is  every  where  repelled 
at  heart  with  a  scorn  so  contemptuous  that  it  can 
scarcely  be  called  indignant.  A  dilemma  springs  up 
from  this  state  of  things.  Idleness  is  abhorred  by  suc- 
cessful men ;  they  insist,  therefore,  on  their  sons  be- 
coming lawyers,  or  doctors,  or  going  into  business. 
Then  follows  a  failure,  in  the  majority  of  cases;  for  the 
spur  to  exertion  that  makes  such  pursuits  satisfy  men, 
is,  in  these  instances,  entirely  wanting,  as  pecuniary 
circumstances  do  not,  in  the  least,  require  the  effort. 
Rich  Americans  fear  lest  their  offspring  may  be  looked 
on  as  useless  members  of  society,  and  the  instinct  that 
leads  them  to  do  so  is  well  enough  as  far  as  it  goes, 
but  the  natural  independent  comment  on  it  all  is,  Why 
spend  so  much  time  in  making  and  saving  money  if  it 


40 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


is  to  be  rather  an  incumbrance  than  otherwise  to  the 
next  generation.  The  real  difficulty,  and  it  is  a  serious 
one,  is  the  limited  range  allowed  by  custom  to  intel- 
lectual energy.  It  is  neither  fair  to  the  individuals,  nor 
to  the  society  of  which  they  are  responsible  units,  that 
the  sons  of  rich  men  should  be  tied  down  to  one  or  two 
money-making  pursuits  ;  they  ought  to  be  in  every  de- 
partment of  literature,  science,  and  art,  not  as  dilettan- 
ti connoisseurs,  but  as  earnest  laborers,  striving  boldly 
for  a  higher  national  excellence  than  has  yet  been 
achieved.  This  is  their  proper  post.  Poor  men  can 
scarcely  afford  to  occupy  it.  It  is  a  glorious  position, 
the  only  proper  one  for  them  to  assume ;  and  so  long 
as  they  neglect  it,  so  long  will  wealth  be  misunder- 
stood and  misapplied.  The  rich  should  study  to  be 
practical  theorists,  so  that  the  less  rich  may  be  theoret- 
ical practitioners.  Every  young  republican  of  means 
in  America  should  aim  to  be  amfocratic  in  its  literal 
sense  ;  that  is,  to  be  "aristos" — the  very  best.  He  has 
advantages  which  his  comrades  have  not.  He  can  af- 
ford to  give  ample,  unembarrassed  study  to  any  subject 
that  suits  his  powers,  and  to  work  out  its  resources  qui- 
etly and  steadily.  He  should  be  one  step  in  advance 
of  the  rest  of  creation,  a  leader  in  the  foremost  rank  of 
the  foremost  band.  The  value  of  a  class  of  men  thus 
occupied  would  be  unquestioned,  and  it  would  not  be 
so  unnatural  then  for  a  parent  to  labor  for  money,  so 
that  his  son  might  enjoy  the  rightful  opportunity  to 
live  an  easy  life  of  elevated  action  and  noble  exertion. 

The  nature  of  the  pursuits  men  follow  should  be  ex- 
amined into  and  tested.  As  we  are  not  good,  we  need 
preachers  ;  as  we  are  not  straightforward,  we  must 
have  lawyers  ;  as  we  are  not  natural,  we  want  doctors ; 
and  we  are  much  indebted  to  all  these  gentlemen ;  but 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


41 


as  we  are  virtuous,  we  ask  for  something  besides,  that 
shall  be  less  negative  and  more  actual.  We  demand 
poets,  mechanics,  philosophers,  men  of  business,  art- 
ists, authors,  sailors,  inventors.  Possessing  the  capac- 
ities of  all  these  in  embryo,  we  ask,  not  that  we  may 
blindly  admire  the  individual,  but  that  we  may  fairly 
appropriate  the  spirit  of  his  work,  and  be,  when  not 
laboring  at  our  own  specialty,  at  small  cost,  and  in  a 
quiet,  general  way,  what  each  professor  is  in  an  indi- 
vidual, troublesome,  and  particular  way.  This  seems 
to  be  the  scope  and  intention  of  life  with  such  a  basis 
as  American  freedom ;  and  exactly  to  the  extent  that 
it  is  recognized  and  acted  on  is  the  advance  in  art  and 
science,  and  in  all  that  makes  the  best  part  of  life. 

It  is  only  in  a  state  of  society  in  which  things  are 
valued  intrinsically,  and  not  for  what  they  will  fetch, 
that  any  art  can  begin  to  progress  or  hope  for  a  chance 
to  become  vital  or  original ;  and  so  long  as  the  enjoy- 
ment of  a  purchase  depends  much  on  the  opinion  of 
others,  and  but  little  on  its  own  merits,  artistic  inven- 
tion is  likely  to  remain  at  a  stand-still.  Taste  must 
be  real,  unborrowed,  and  individual,  to  accomplish  any 
thing ;  and  even  a  small  allowance  of  earnest  percep- 
tive conviction  is  better  than  any  amount  of  follow- 
my-leader  opinion.  If  excellent  architecture  can  give 
innocent  pleasure,  it  is  certainly  worth  having,  and 
all  Americans  ought  to  have  it  with  as  little  delay  as 
possible  ;  not  for  the  sake  of  gratifying  any  petty  spirit 
of  rivalry,  or  indulging  any  national  or  local  pride,  but 
simply  because  it  is  ivorth  having ;  on  the  same  prin- 
ciple that  every  healthy  man  ought  to  enjoy  dining 
daily,  not  on  account  of  his  being  able  to  afford  richer 
food  than  his  neighbors,  or  because  he  happens  to 
know  a  dozen  people  who  live  poorly  (for  if  he  can  de- 


42 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


rive  any  appetite  from  such  facts  he  is  no  true  man), 
but  solely  because  his  good  constitution  requires  regu- 
lar sustenance. 

In  America  perfect  liberty,  that  absolute  essential 
for  healthy  life,  has  been,  in  clue  course,  talked  for, 
fought  for,  legislated  for,  and,  in  these  Free  States,  de- 
cidedly realized ;  and  it  seems,  therefore,  scarcely  fair 
now  to  train  all  the  best  men  to  be  lawyers  and  politi- 
cians, because  the  talent  is  more  wanted  somewhere 
else.  The  sensation  of  freedom  is  nothing  more  than 
the  felt  certainty  of  non-interference,  and,  however 
complete  it  may  be,  it  can  neither  supply  the  will  to  do 
any  thing,  nor  suggest  any  deed  to  be  done ;  it  is  like 
light,  only  perceptible  when  reflected  from  an  object ; 
it  offers  a  solid  rock  on  which  to  build,  but  not  one 
idea  for  the  superstructure  adapted  to  it.  In  America 
this  rock  commands  a  boundless  prospect,  and  no  fit- 
tins;  or  enduring  edifice  can  be  erected  on  it  that  does 
not  include  the  most  liberal  manners,  the  most  gener- 
ous aspirations,  the  most  noble  institutions,  and  the 
most  pure  and  beautiful  arts  that  unfettered  humanity 
is  capable  of  conceiving.  There  has  not,  indeed,  been, 
from  the  commencement  of  the  world  till  this  moment, 
an  opportunity  for  the  advance  of  the  fine  arts  so  re- 
plete with  the  material  of  true  success  as  now  exists 
in  America ;  this  advance  is  a  question  of  choice,  not 
time  ;  of  purpose,  not  ability ;  of  direction,  not  force  ; 
there  is  capacity  enough  spread  over  all  the  country, 
and  being  wasted  daily :  it  is  conviction  and  will  that 
are  needed. 

When  the  talent  and  energy  that  are  fostered  by 
American  institutions  are  distributed  with  tolerable 
fairness,  we  shall,  among  many  other  things,  be  justified 
in  expecting  to  find  in  every  architectural  effort-,  not 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


43 


something  so  new  that  it  is  unintelligible,  but  some 
distinctive  characteristics  that  show  it  to  be  a  genuine 
American  invention.  These,  however,  can  hardly  be 
expected  to  depend  much  on  the  employment  of  really 
new  forms.  Webster  and  Clay  were  orators  of  origin- 
ality, but  their  words  were  all  old.  Their  stock  in  trade 
is  common  property  in  the  form  of  a  dictionary,  and 
the  boundary  lines,  over  which  neither  ever  ventured 
to  pass,  are  fairly  set  forth  in  a  good  grammar.  Any 
desire  on  their  part  to  invent  a  brand-new  language 
would  have  been,  of  course,  absurd,  and  any  wish  to 
produce  a  brand-new  style  of  building  is,  without  doubt, 
an  equally  senseless  chimera. 

All  previous  experience  in  architecture  is  the  inher- 
ited property  of  America,  and  should  be  taken  every 
advantage  of.  Each  beautiful  thought,  form,  and  mode 
that  is  not  unsuited  to  the  climate  and  the  people, 
ought  to  be  studied,  sifted,  and  tested,  its  principles 
elucidated,  and  itself  improved  on ;  but  the  past  should 
always  be  looked  on  as  a  servant,  not  as  a  master. 

Individual  sentiment  and  education  should  be  en- 
couraged to  act  freely  in  every  instance,  and  by  de- 
grees that  important  fact,  a  genuine  public  taste,  will 
be  fairly  unfolded.  The  authority  of  precedents  will 
then  be  unneeded,  for  actual  ideas,  such  as  "fitness," 
" unity,"  "variety,"  will  give  the  critical  standard  to 
the  general  taste.  Every  individual  of  sound  mind 
will  then  help  to  improve  the  national  architecture, 
for  each  will  resolutely  refuse  to  admire  any  structure 
that  does  not  seem  agreeable  to  him  or  her  individu- 
ally, and  all  will  freely  insist  on  a  right  to  call  good 
whatever  coincides  with  their  untrammeled,  but  not 
uncultivated  natural  perceptions.  Emerson  says  for- 
cibly on  this  point,  "Why  need  we  copy  the  Doric 


44  VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 

or  the  Gothic  model  ?  Beauty,  convenience,  grandeur 
of  thought,  and  quaint  expression  are  as  near  to  us  as 
to  any,  and  if  the  American  artist  will  study  with 
hope  and  love  the  precise  thing  to  be  done  by  him, 
considering  the  climate,  the  soil,  the  length  of  day, 
the  wants  of  the  people,  the  habit  and  form  of  govern- 
ment, he  will  create  a  home  in  which  all  these  will 
find  themselves  fitted,  and  taste  and  sentiment  will  be 
satisfied  also." 


In  a  country  like  this,  where  the  printing-press  ac- 
companies each  stride  that  is  made  into  new  localities, 
and  where  every  step  is  marked  by  a  building  of  some 
sort,  it  seems  inconsistent  that  there  should  be  but 
little  popular  literature  on  architectural  matters ;  yet 
such  is  undoubtedly  the  fact,  and  although  Americans 
are  certainly  diligent  readers  and  energetic  builders, 
their  habit  of  reading  has  scarcely  had  so  much  influ- 
ence for  good  on  their  habit  of  building  as  might  natu- 
rally be  expected,  when  we  consider  the  practical  char- 
acter and  universally  recurring  interest  of  the  subject 
of  domestic  architecture. 

It  has  not,  certainly,  till  within  the  last  few  years, 
been  an  easy  matter  to  place  before  the  public  the  nec- 
essary illustrations  in  a  convenient  form,  and  as  mere 
verbal  descriptions  of  plans  or  designs  are  seldom  thor- 
oughly intelligible,  this  difficulty  has  probably  retard- 
ed the  diffusion  of  popular  architectural  information. 
Now,  however,  with  the  present  rapid  development 
and  general  application  of  the  art  of  wood-engraving 
in  the  United  States,  this  hindrance  no  longer  exists, 
and  a  fair  field  is  open  for  the  free  communication  of 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


45 


ideas  among  American  architects,  and  for  the  profita- 
ble interchange  of  hints  and  suggestions. 

The  study  of  what  has  been  done  by  other  nations, 
though  useful  as  a  help,  will  never,  by  itself,  lead  to 
mu^ch  result  in  America,  where  the  institutions,  the 
needs  of  the  climate,  and  the  habits  of  the  people,  have 
a  distinctive  character  that  requires  special  considera- 
tion ;  and  this  remark  applies  particularly  to  rural 
architecture.  Thus  the  Greek  mode,  though  complete- 
ly beautiful  when  contemplated  from  a  proper  point 
of  view,  has  for  its  leading  characteristic  a  passion- 
less repose  that  is  not  heartily  sympathized  with  ei- 
ther by  the  American  atmosphere  or  the  spirit  of  this 
locomotive  age;  and,  consequently,  no  architectural 
effort  imitated  from  the  Greek  can  help  being,  to  a 
great  extent,  a  mere  lifeless  parody.  The  failure  is 
generally  very  conspicuous,  but  even  in  the  least  un- 
satisfactory instances  some  absurd  inconsistency  is  sure 
to  assert  itself.  Common  sense  will  insist  on  chim- 
neys and  verandas,  and  the  pure  classic  outline  in  due 
course  suffers  grievous  mutilation,  being  thus  pun- 
ished for  its  intrusion  into  a  locality  where  it  had  no 
business  to  be  attempted. 

Styles  like  the  Chinese  or  Moorish  assist  us  but  lit- 
tle, though  each  exhibits  isolated  features  that  de- 
serve careful  examination.  The  Moorish,  for  exam- 
ple, shows  what  magical  effects  may  be  produced  by 
light,  recessed  arcades,  and  gives  some  good  sugges- 
tions for  verandas.  The  Chinese  again,  with  its  trel- 
lises and  balconies,  is  interesting  in  detail ;  but  neither 
of  these  phases  of  architectural  taste  is  of  comprehen- 
sive value.  They  are  very  deficient  in  compactness 
and  completeness  of  plan,  and  in  artistic  design  they 
depend  too  much  for  their  effect  on  delicate  and  elabo- 


46 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


rate  ornamentation ;  such  decorations  as  paneling,  carv- 
ing, painting,  and  gilding,  may  be  readily  enough  ob- 
tained where  a  clever,  industrious,  efficient  pair  of 
hands  can  be  hired  for  a  few  spoonfuls  of  rice  per 
diem,  but  not  so  easily  in  a  country  where  every  pne 
is  as  good  as  his  neighbor  uand  better,"  and  where 
ordinary  mechanics  ask  and  get  two  or  three  dollars 
for  a  day's  work.  The  irregular  Italian,  and  the  later 
modifications  of  the  Gothic,  are  the  most  useful  types 
to  analyze ;  but  the  flat-terraced  roofs  of  the  first  have 
to  be  avoided  on  account  of  the  snow,  and  the  latter 
has  to  be  adapted  to  the  use  of  verandas  before  it  can 
be  acceptable.  Nor  is  this  all :  there  is  in  this  country 
a  perpetual  necessity  for  compactness  of  plan,  how- 
ever large  the  house  may  be,  because,  as  it  is  invaria- 
bly difficult  to  get  efficient  servants,  it  is  desirable  to 
save  labor  in  every  possible  way.  In  this  particular 
neither  the  Italian  nor  the  Gothic  examples  help  us 
materially ;  they  delight  too  much  in  halls  and  pas- 
sages, long  corridors  and  wide  vestibules,  galleries,  and 
staircases.  This  sort  of  rambling  arrangement  does 
not  answer  here — the  difficulties  of  heating  and  service 
render  a  closer  attention  to  concentration  desirable — 
nevertheless,  a  sufficient  privacy,  and  a  freedom  from 
any  appearance  of  meanness,  is  the  right  of  every 
house,  however  small  its  scale.  The  English  country 
houses  and  cottages  have  undoubtedly  claims  to  our 
best  consideration ;  but  it  is  from  an  examination,  by 
means  of  illustrations,  of  what  is  going  on  at  home, 
called  forth  by  the  actual  needs  of  people,  more  than 
from  a  study  of  foreign  examples,  that  the  general 
taste  for  architectural  comfort  and  beauty  in  country 
houses  is  likely  to  improve.  Any  genuine  step  in  ad- 
vance will  be  responded  to  at  once  by  the  sympathetic 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


47 


perceptive  faculties  of  individuals  who  may  notice  it, 
and  the  result,  so  far  as  it  bears  on  their  needs,  will 
remain  daguerreotyped  in  the  memory.  Whatever, 
on  the  other  hand,  has  no  reference  to  local  habits 
and  experience,  will  be  passed  over  without  receiving 
much  consideration.  Every  active-minded  man  is  in 
a  position  to  understand  and  criticise  such  examples, 
and  though  they  may  have  little  of  the  pretension  or 
extent  that  specimens  of  villa  architecture  in  other 
differently  constituted  countries  would  afford,  they 
will  have  the  practical  advantage  of  offering  definite 
starting-points  for  farther  improvement  at  home. 

This  would  hardly  hold  good  if  there  was  very  little 
doing;  but  such  is  not  the  case.  There  has  been  latter- 
ly an  immense  number  of  buildings  of  this  nature  go- 
ing up  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States ;  numberless 
villages  have  sprung  into  existence,  and  much  thought 
has  been  given  to  the  subject.  A  very  transient  visit 
into  any  part  of  the  country  shows,  however,  that 
most  of  the  villas  and  cottages  are  erected  without  re- 
gard to  artistic  propriety,  and  at  considerable  loss  to 
their  owners  from  the  useless  outlay  incurred  by  adopt- 
ing ill-considered  plans,  and  the  subject,  as  well  as  the 
majority  of  the  houses,  would  be  improved  by  a  little 
more  ventilation.  '  Square  boxes,  small  and  large,  are 
springing  up  in  every  direction,  constructed  without 
any  attempt  at  proportion,  or  the  slightest  apparent 
desire  to  make  them  agreeable  objects  in  the  landscape. 
These  tell  their  tale  simply  and  unceremoniously:  they 
are  the  natural  result  of  the  migratory,  independent 
spirit  pervading  the  industrious  classes  in  America, 
and  offer  interesting  evidences  of  the  genuine  prosper- 
ity of  the  country,  for  they  show  not  only  that  the 
landlord  and  tenant  system  is  disliked,  but  that  al- 


48 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


most  every  store-keeper  and  mechanic  can  contrive, 
even  when  quite  young,  to  buy  his  own  lot  and  live 
in  his  own  house.  On  the  other  hand,  however,  they 
demonstrate  that  the  capacity  for  enjoyment,  and  the 
appreciation  of  what  is  really  desirable  in  life,  that 
should  naturally  accompany  this  active  and  successful 
industry,  are  wanting.  Each  of  these  bare,  bald,  white 
cubes  tells  its  monotonous  story  of  a  youth  passed 
with  little  or  no  cultivation  of  the  higher  natural  per- 
ceptions, and  of  a  system  of  education  in  which  the 
study  of  the  beautiful  in  its  most  simple  elements  is 
neglected  and  apparently  despised.  The  lack  of  taste 
perceptible  all  over  the  country  in  small  buildings,  is 
a  decided  bar  to  healthy,  social  enjoyments ;  it  is  a 
weakness  that  affects  the  whole  bone  and  muscle  of 
the  body  politic;  and  it  is  a  needless  inconsistency,  for 
a  full  exercise  of  freedom  of  speech  and  action  should 
naturally  result  in  a  full,  free  exercise  of  the  innocent 
enjoyment  that  unfettered  industry  renders  possible, 
and  a  refined  propriety  and  simple,  inexpensive  grace 
ought  habitually  to  be  the  distinctive  marks  of  every 
habitation  in  which  a  free  American  dwells. 

Unfortunately,  however,  this  is  not  the  case.  Even 
the  village  school  itself,  in  which  the  earliest  and  most 
active  germs  of  progressive  thought  are  commenced,  is 
almost  universally  a  naked,  shabby  structure,  without 
a  tree  or  a  shrub  near  it,  and  is  remarkable  chiefly  for 
an  air  of  coarse  neglect  that  pervades  its  whole  aspect. 
The  improvement  of  the  village  school-house  is  proba- 
bly the  most  powerful  and  available  lever  that  can  be 
applied  toward  effecting  a  change  for  the  better  in  the 
appearance  of  rural  buildings  generally :  all  see  it,  all 
are  interested  in  it,  and  all  are  more  or  less  influenced 
by  its  conduct  and  appearance.    It  is  placed  under  the 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


49 


control  of  the  leading  men  in  each  place,  and  it  might 
easily  be  made  the  most  cheerful  and  soul-satisfying 
building  in  the  neighborhood,  instead  of,  as  at  pres- 
ent, a  God-forsaken,  forlorn-looking  affair,  that  is  cal- 
culated to  chill  the  heart  and  insult  the  eye  of  every 
thoughtful  beholder.  The  cost  would  be  utterly  in- 
commensurate with  the  advantage  to  be  obtained.  An 
extra  hundred  or  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  at  first 
starting  would  do  much.  The  roof  might  then  have  a 
good  projection,  and  be  neatly  finished.  Some  sort 
of  simple  porch  might  be  added,  the  chimney  might 
be  slightly  ornamented,  and  the  rest  would  then  de- 
pend on  proportion,  color,  and  surrounding  the  build- 
ing from  time  to  time  with  shrubs,  creeping  vines,  and 
young  trees.  These,  in  after  years,  would  offer  a  wel- 
come shade,  and  give  an  air  of  domestic  comfort  and 
liberal  vitality  to  the  whole  effect.  A  similar  result, 
through  precisely  similar  means,  would  probably,  in 
course  of  time,  be  arrived  at  in  the  small  cottages  in 
its  vicinity,  and,  as  success  would  be  cheap  and  invari- 
able, the  example  would  have  a  fair  chance  of  spread- 
ing. Such  a  simple,  unpretending  style  of  building 
as  is  sketched  on  page  25,  admits  of  endless  variety  of 
design,  and  is  within  the  reach  of  every  civilized  com- 
munity. 

Our  subject  having  thus  led  us  to  the  consideration 
of  school-houses,  it  may  be  worth  while  to  add  a  few 
words  as  to  the  schools  themselves. 

True  and  intelligent  republicanism  clearly  points  to  a 
state  of  society  in  which  the  private  possession  of  great 
pecuniary  wealth  ought  to  be  a  comparatively  unim- 
portant matter,  because  it  should  yield  to  its  possessor 
but  little  more  real  comfort,  or  even  luxury,  than  can 
be  readily  acquired  by  every  industrious  man.  Com- 


50 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


plete  protection  from  the  weather  in  healthy,  well-ven- 
tilated, comfortably-appointed,  and  tastefully-arranged 
apartments ;  good  food,  scientific  cookery,  and  an  am- 
ple supply  of  artificial  light;  appropriate  clothing, 
pretty  furniture  and .  draperies,  delightful  books,  en- 
gravings, and  works  of  art,  may  all  be  obtained  at  lit- 
tle cost  by  a  skillful  combination  of  liberal  economy 
and  wise  management ;  and  it  will  be  found  that  the 
richest  man  in  the  world  can  scarcely  realize  more 
than  this,  though  he  may,  of  course,  carry  out  the 
idea  on  a  very  magnificent  scale.  But  even  here  the 
man  of  small  means  may  be  almost  on  the  same  foot- 
ing as  the  millionaire,  for  public  baths,  gymnasiums, 
theatres,  music-halls,  libraries,  lecture-rooms,  parks, 
gardens,  picture-galleries,  museums,  schools,  and  every 
thing  that  is  needed  for  the  liberal  education  of  an  in- 
telligent freeman's  children,  can  easily  be  obtained  by 
the  genuine  republican  if  he  will  only  take  the  trou- 
ble to  want  them.  All,  and  more  than  all,  of  these 
sources  of  gratification  lie  folded  up  in  his  industri- 
ous palm.  He  may  either  clench  his  fist  and  fight  his 
way  through  the  world  without  allowing  the  treasure 
he  holds  to  see  the  light,  or  sell  it  to  his  brother  for 
a  mess  of  pottage  on  the  old  aristocratic  plan ;  or  he 
may  keep  his  birth-right  himself,  and  cultivate  it,  as 
nature  intended  he  should,  for  his  own  and  the  public 
enjoyment.  A  correct  general  choice  in  the  matter 
must  be  the  work  of  years,  and  can  only  result  from 
a  refinement  in  popular  education  that  will  urge  the 
unspoiled,  pliable  young  minds  of  the  rising  genera- 
tion to  the  study  of  the  beautiful  as  well  as  to  the  ac- 
quirement of  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic.  The 
leading  principles  of  good  taste  should  go  hand  in 
hand  with  the  multiplication  table,  and  every  com- 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


51 


men  school  class  should  have  its  artistic  as  well  as  its 
literary  and  oratorical  book  of  selections  from  the  best 
authors  for  every  day  public  reading. 

One  especial  disadvantage  that  rural  art  labors  un- 
der in  America  is,  that  the  plans  of  country  towns  and 
villages  are  so  formal  and  unpicturesque.  They  gen- 
erally consist  of  square  blocks  of  houses,  each  facing 
the  other  with  conventional  regularity ;  and  this  ar- 
rangement is  so  discordant  with  the  varied  outlines 
characterizing  American  scenery,  that  Dame  Nature 
refuses,  at  the  outset,  to  have  any  thing  to  do  with 
them,  and  they  never  seem  afterward  to  get  any  bet- 
ter acquainted  with  her.  Except,  perhaps,  in  a  very 
large  city,  there  is  no  advantage  gained  by  this  in- 
tense monotony  of  arrangement,  and  it  is  much  to  be 
regretted  that  in  the  many  new  villages  that  are  being 
erected  the  same  dull,  uninteresting  method  is  still 
predominant. 

The  great  charm  in  the  forms  of  natural  landscape 
lies  in  its  well-balanced  irregularity.  This  is  also  the 
secret  of  success  in  every  picturesque  village,  and  in 
every  picturesque  garden,  country-house,  or  cottage. 
Human  nature,  when  allowed  a  free,  healthy  scope, 
loves  heartily  this  well-balanced  irregularity,  and  longs 
for  it  in  life,  in  character,  and  in  almost  every  thing. 
It  is  the  possession  of  this  same  quality,  even  when 
the  balance  is  incompletely  kept,  that  makes  the  stir- 
ring, unconventional,  free-spirited  man  so  much  more 
interesting  and  agreeable  than  the  cold,  correct,  and 
somewhat  unsympathetic  gentleman  who  never  does 
any  harm  to  any  one,  and  whose  equanimity  is  never 
disturbed.  We  want  far  less  formality  and  restraint 
in  the  plans  of  our  new  villages.  The  roads  should 
wind  in  graceful,  easy  curves,  and  be  laid  out  in  ac- 


52 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


cordance  with  the  formation  of  the  ground  and  the 
natural  features  of  interest.  A  single  existing  tree 
ought  often  to  be  the  all-sufficient  reason  for  slightly 
diverting  the  line  of  a  road,  so  as  to  take  advantage 
of  its  shade,  instead  of  cutting  it  down  and  grubbing 
up  its  roots.  In  a  case  that  recently  occurred  near  a 
country  town  at  some  distance  from  New  York,  a  road 
was  run  through  a  very  beautiful  estate,  one  agreeable 
feature  of  which  was  a  pretty  though  small  pond  that, 
even  in  the  dryest  seasons,  was  always  full  of  water, 
and  would  have  formed  an  agreeable  adjunct  to  a 
country-seat.  A  single  straight  pencil-line  on  the 
plan  doubtless  marked  out  the  direction  of  the  road ; 
and  as  this  line  happened  to  go  straight  through  the 
pond,  straight  through  the  pond  was  the  road  accord- 
ingly carried,  the  owner  of  the  estate  personally  su- 
perintending the  operation,  and  thus  spoiling  his  sheet 
of  water,  diminishing  the  value  of  his  lands,  and  in- 
creasing expense  by  the  cost  of  filling  in,  without  any 
advantage  whatever:  for  a  winding  road  so  laid  out 
as  to  skirt  the  pond,  would  have  been  far  more  at- 
tractive and  agreeable  than  the  harsh,  straight  line 
that  is  now  scored  like  a  railway  track  clear  through 
the  undulating  surface  of  the  property ;  and  such  bar- 
barisms are  of  constant  occurrence.  Points  of  this  na- 
ture deserve  the  utmost  attention,  instead  of  the  reck- 
less disregard  they  generally  meet  with.  When  once 
a  road  is  laid  out,  its  fate  is  settled,  and  no  alteration 
is  likely  to  be  made :  it  is,  therefore,  the  more  desira- 
ble that  its  direction  should  be  well  studied  in  the  first 
instance. 

If  we  now  attempt  to  take  a  general  view  of  the  sub- 
ject of  domestic  architecture,  we  shall  find,  in  the  first 
instance,  that  every  residence  intended  to  be  satisfac- 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES 


53 


tory  must  be  comfortably  planned,  pleasantly  designed, 
and  soundly  constructed. 

In  any  design  that  is  intended  to  be  used  by  an  in- 
telligent human  being,  the  general  distribution  and 
detailed  arrangement  of  the  accommodation  to  be  fur- 
nished, or  what  is  called  the  'plan,  is  the  first  point 
that  should  occupy  our  attention  ;  for  the  most  sim- 
ple idea  admits  of  a  good  or  a  bad  arrangement.  Let 
us  take,  for  example,  a  house  that  is  to  consist  of  but 
one  room,  as  in  plan  A.  The  door  opens 
immediately  opposite  the  fire-place:  a  cold 
draught  is,  therefore,  likely  to  be  constant- 
ly traversing  the  whole  length  of  the  floor 
of  the  apartment  from  the  door  to  the  fire,  and  as  the 
chimney  is  placed  in  the  outer  wall,  a  great  deal  of 
heat  will  be  lost.  Moreover,  the  bed,  C,  and  the  sink, 
S,  are  entirely  exposed  to  view,  and  thus  privacy  and 
cleanliness  are  scarcely  possible.  Now  a  man  may, 
with  comfort  and  decency,  make  his  kitchen  his  living 
room ;  but  he  will  find  it  disagreeable  if  he  has,  in 
addition,  to  use  it  as  a  bedroom  and  sink-room.  It 
is  therefore  desirable  to  improve  on  this 
plan.  The  diagram  B  shows  a  different, 
and,  in  every  way,  a  more  sensible  and  con- 
venient arrangement  of  the  same  space. 
Here  the  door  and  chimney  are  so  placed 
with  reference  to  each  other,  that  the  minimum  of 
draught  occurs  in  the  room  when  the  door  is  opened. 
The  chimney  is  built  in  the  body  of  the  house,  so  that 
as  much  heat  as  possible  is  saved.  A  few  feet  of 
board  partition  set  at  the  back  of  the  chimney  sup- 
plies a  somewhat  private  recess  for  a  bed,  and  also  an 
entrance  lobby  with  room  for  the  sink ;  and  the  prin- 
cipal room  and  both  recesses  may  communicate  by 


54 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


means  of  tin  pipes  through  the  ceiling  with  an  air 
flue  carried  up  alongside  the  smoke-flue,  thus  thor- 
oughly ventilating  the  whole  building.  The  two  clos- 
ets are  placed  at  the  other  end  of  the  room,  so  that  a 
window  seat,  that  may  also  be  a  locker  to  contain  a 
supply  of  coal,  can  be  arranged  between  them,  thus 
rendering  the  interior  appearance  of  the  room  more 
agreeable ;  and  a  strip  of  curtain,  or,  if  thought  worth 
while,  a  light  door  hung  on  each  side  of  the  chimney- 
breast  will  give  privacy  and  an  air  of  snugness  to  the 
whole  arrangement.  Now,  this  plan  in  execution 
would  cost  perhaps  $10  more  than  the  other;  and 
taking  the  interest  of  this  $10  at  10  per  cent,  the  cash 
difference  to  the  occupier  would  be  $1  a  year,  while  the 
comfort  difference  to  any  one  with  the  slightest  taste 
for  that  blessing  would  be  incalculable — the  one  resi- 
dence being  inconvenient  and  vulgar,  while  the  other, 
so  far  as  it  goes,  is  commodious  and  comparatively 
elegant. 

This  sketch  of  a  plan  is  introduced  merely  for  the 
purpose  of  illustrating  the  difference  between  an  ill- 
considered  and  well-considered  mode  of  working  out 
on  a  .very  small  scale  the  simplest  possible  idea  of  a 
decent  human  habitation ;  but  the  principles  involved 
in  its  arrangement  apply  with  equal  force  through 
the  whole  range  of  domestic  architecture.  The  first 
thing  that  is  needed  is  a  kitchen ;  the  second,  an  in- 
closed lobby.  A  separate  bedroom  is  the  next  step 
for  comfort;  and  we  then  advance  to  a  plan  that  pro- 
vides a  living  room  separate  from  the  kitchen,  a  hall 
with  a  staircase  in  it,  and  bedrooms  up  stairs.  A 
house  with  this  amount  of  accommodation  should 
have  a  veranda  attached  to  it.  A  separate  staircase- 
hall  and  a  second  living  room  would  be  the  next  ad- 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES.  55 

dition  to  comfort,  and  we  may  then  proceed  upward 
in  the  scale  of  accommodation  to  any  extent  that  is 
required,  adding  separate  rooms  for  special  purposes, 
a  servants'  staircase,  bath-rooms,  etc.  But  before  leav- 
ing this  part  of  the  subject,  it  seems  desirable  to  say 
a  few  words  as  to  the  proper  scope  for  the  plans  of 
country  residences  of  moderate  size. 

By  far  too  many  of  the  villas  that  are  built  are  ex- 
tensive and  costly,  and  many  persons  in  easy  circum- 
stances are  deterred  from  building  a  home  in  the  coun- 
try, because  they  are  impressed  with  the  idea  that  they 
must  erect  a  large  house  or  none  at  all.  This  preva- 
lent feeling  prevents  a  great  deal  of  enjoyment  of  rural 
life  that  might  otherwise  be  realized,  and  requires  to 
be  looked  into  and  criticised. 

All  that  appears  to  be  necessary  for  real  comfort  in 
a  villa  or  cottage  residence,  exclusive  of  the  bedrooms 
and  offices,  is  a  parlor  of  tolerable  size,  which  shall 
be  the  general  living-room  of  the  family,  and  another 
apartment  contiguous  to,  or  connecting  with  it,  to  be 
used  as  a  breakfast  and  dining  room.  If  a  third  large 
room,  to  be  called  either  library  or  drawing-room,  is 
required,  the  whole  scale  of  the  house  is  materially  en- 
larged, and  its  cost  much  increased. 

It  has  been,  and  is  too  much  the  custom,  both  in 
town  and  country  houses,  to  consider  the  dining-room 
as  a  part  of  the  house  to  be  used  solely  for  eating  and 
drinking  purposes,  and  to  give  it  but  little  attention  for 
that  reason.  It  is,  indeed,  quite  common  to  find,  even 
in  comparatively  large  houses,  a  meagrely-furnished 
apartment  in  the  basement  set  apart  as  the  scene  of 
whatever  daily  festivity  is  carried  on  in  the  house. 

If  a  country  residence  is  built  on  sloping  ground,  so 
that  the  basement  rooms  on  one  front  are  entirely  un- 


56 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


obstructed,  and  are  supplied  with  windows  overlook- 
ing the  garden,  this  objection  is  not  so  strong.  But 
even  then,  the  trouble  of  going  up  and  down  stairs  to 
and  from  the  sitting-room  is  annoying,  and  it  is  far 
preferable  to  have  both  rooms  near  together  on  the 
principal  floor.  But  when,  as  is  generally  the  case, 
the  house  is  built  on  level  ground,  and  the  lower 
rooms  are  lighted  solely  by  area  windows,  nothing 
can  be  more  entirely  opposed  to  the  idea  of  freedom 
that  is  suggested  by  life  in  the  country  than  a  base- 
ment dining-room.  It  is  in  this  apartment  that  the 
different  members  of  the  family  are  sure  to  assemble 
several  times  a  day,  though  they  may  be  almost  com- 
pletely separated  at  other  times  by  circumstances,  or 
the  various  pursuits  that  occupy  their  attention,  and 
it  is  highly  desirable  that  such  a  room  should  fitly  and 
cheerfully  express  its  purpose,  and  be  one  of  the  most 
agreeable  in  the  house,  so  as  to  heighten  the  value  of 
this  constant  and  familiar  reunion  as  much  as  possi- 
ble, and  to  encourage  in  every  way,  by  external  influ- 
ences, a  spirit  of  refinement  and  liberal  hospitality. 
The  fact  is,  that  the  art  of  eating  and  drinking  wisely 
and  well  is  so  important  to  our  social  happiness  that 
it  deserves  to  be  developed  under  somewhat  more  favor- 
able circumstances  than  is  possible  in  a  basement  din- 
ing-room. There  is  no  necessity  in  any  country  house 
that  such  a  room  should  be  restricted  in  its  use  to  one 
purpose.  If  fitted  up  with  book-cases,  and  enlivened 
by  engravings,  it  will  be  constantly  used  as  a  family 
room,  for,  with  proper  pantry  arrangements,  it  can  be 
left  entirely  free  in  a  few  minutes  after  each  meal. 

Design  No.  6  was  prepared  especially  to  illustrate 
these  remarks. 

"When  the  plan  proper  is  perfected,  and  all  the  ac- 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


57 


commodation  determined  on  is  arranged  in  the  most 
economical  and  agreeable  manner,  there  are  still  two 
main  points  that  need  attention,  if  the  house,  however 
small,  is  to  be  healthy  and  sweet.  These  are  ventila- 
tion and  drainage.  Many  volumes  have  been  written 
on  the  subject  of  ventilation,  and  much  rhetoric  has 
been  expended  on  the  effort  to  show  that  lungs  require 
fresh  air.  But  although  this  is  a  self-evident  propo- 
sition to  any  man,  woman,  or  child  who  will  give  the 
subject  a  moment's  consideration,  it  is  lamentable  to 
perceive  that  this  moment's  consideration  is  seldom 
given,  and  that  the  common  practice  of  ordinary  house- 
building is  in  opposition  to  plain  sense  so  far  as  ven- 
tilation is  concerned.  Yet  the  leading  points  may  be 
briefly  stated.  Any  apartment,  to  be  a  healthy  one, 
needs  a  current  of  air  always  passing  through  it,  wheth- 
er the  windows  are  open  or  shut ;  and  to  insure  this, 
every  one  must  see  that  it  is  necessary  to  have  an  in- 
let and  an  outlet.  Now  an  inlet  is  commonly  pro- 
vided by  the  warm  air  register  from  the  furnace,  which 
should  be  left  open  as  a  cold  air  register  in  summer, 
and  is  always  insured  more  or  less  by  the  opening  and 
shutting  of  doors.  But  the  outlet  requires  special  at- 
tention. It  should  be  an  orifice  suited  to  the  size  of 
the  room,  opening  into  a  flue  that  is  not  a  smoke-flue, 
near  the  ceiling,  for  summer  ventilation,  or  for  use  in 
colder  weather  when  the  apartment  is  crowded  ;  and 
an  orifice  opening  into  a  similar  flue  near  the  floor  for 
ordinary  winter  ventilation  :  this  latter  great  desider- 
atum is  provided  to  some  extent  in  every  room  that 
is  furnished  with  an  open  fireplace,  whether  a  fire  is 
ever  lighted  in  the  grate  or  not,  and  for  this,  if  for 
no  other  reason,  it  is  desirable  that  the  open  fire- 
place should  never  be  omitted  in  rooms  that  are  in- 


58 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


tended  to  be  occupied  either  as  living  or  sleeping  apart- 
ments. 

The  objection  that  is  generally  raised  against  venti- 
lation is,  that  it  is  uneconomical  in  winter,  more  fuel 
being  needed  to  keep  a  room  warm  if  there  is  a  free 
escape  for  the  air,  than  if  its  circulation  is  impeded; 
and  this  is  granted  at  once,  as  far  as  the  expenditure 
of  fuel  is  concerned,  but  not  as  regards  economy  in  any 
proper  sense  of  the  word.  It  would,  of  course,  be  a 
saving  in  money  if  a  family  should  acquire  the  habit 
of  eating  spoiled  meat,  as  such  stuff  could  probably  be 
bought  cheap ;  but  it  would  be  very  poor  economy ; 
and  it  is  equally  senseless  for  human  beings  to  feed 
their  lungs  with  spoiled  air,  on  the  plea  of  saving 
money  by  it. 

Efficient  drainage  is  an  equally  important  part  of 
any  plan  for  a  residence  in  the  country,  and  some 
means  of  getting  rid  of  the  sewerage  and  waste  water 
must  be  provided.  A  complete  connected  system  of 
pipes  communicating  with  a  common  sewer  is  not  to 
be  had  in  the  country,  and  we  must,  therefore,  resort 
to  the  plan  of  a  cess-pool  or  manure  tank.  This  should 
be  placed  at  some  distance  from  the  house,  and  as  far 
as  possible  from  the  well.  If  the  premises  are  small, 
and  it  is  necessary  that  the  well  should  be  nearer  than 
100  feet  to  the  cess-pool,  the  latter  must  be  cemented 
and  rendered  thoroughly  water-tight,  and  emptied  from 
time  to  time,  or  evil  consequences  may  ensue.  This  re- 
ceptacle should  be  connected  with  the  house  by  brick 
drains,  or,  what  is  better,  by  four-inch  or  five-inch  earth- 
en pipes,  if  they  can  be  readily  procured.  All  these 
communications  require  to  be  properly  trapped,  so  that 
there  may  be  no  continuous  air-passage  from  the  cess- 
pool to  the  house,  or  noxious  gases  will  certainly  rise 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


59 


through  the  pipes,  and  be  extremely  offensive  in  every 
way. 

A  water-closet,  or  its  equivalent,  is  an  absolute  ne- 
cessity in  any  house  that  is  proposed  to  be  a  conven- 
ient and  agreeable  residence ;  but  as  there  is  some- 
times a  difficulty,  and  always  an  expense,  in  arranging 
a  regular  water-closet,  it  is  desirable  to  invent  some 
simple  plan  which  shall  approximate  to  its  advantages 
at  little  cost.  A  necessary  abutting  on  the  house,  or 
communicating  with  it  by  a  covered  way,  if  properly 
arranged,  will  answer  the  purpose.  The  diagram  shows 
a  plan  that  I  have  prepared  and 
adopted  with  advantage  in  sev- 
eral cases.  The  idea  is  to  form 
a  comparatively  small  receiver, 
with  a  circular  cone  in  the  cen- 
tre, immediately  under  the  floor 
of  the  closet,  both  cone  and  re- 
ceiver being  of  brick  coated  with 
asphalt,  or  some  cement  that 
will  not  be  affected  by  frost.  On 
one  side  this  receiver  is  connect- 
ed with  a  rain-pipe  from  the 
building,  and  through  a  proper  trap  on  the  other  side, 
with  a  drain  leading  to  the  regular  cess-pool.  By  this 
arrangement  we  have  but  a  small  surface  exposed  to 
the  action  of  the  atmosphere,  and  this  is  changed  when- 
ever there  is  any  rain.  The  object  of  the  cone  is  to 
reduce  the  surface  and  increase  the  effect  of  the  wash, 
while  the  rain-pipe  acts  as  a  ventilator,  carrying  any 
gas  that  may  be  generated  up  to,  and  above,  the  roof 
of  the  main  house.  If  the  outlet  on  the  roof  is  near  a 
dormer-window,  and  it  is  consequently  objectionable  to 
ventilate  at  this  point,  the  pipe  may  be  constructed  as 


60 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


shown  at  C,  and  the  ventilating  tube  carried  up  under 
the  rafters  into  a  chimney,  where  it 
can  do  no  harm,  while  the  increased 
height  will  insure  a  draught  in  the 
right  direction. 

When  we  consider  the  trouble- 
some, unhealthy,  indelicate,  ugly  ef- 
fect of  these  outbuildings,  as  usual- 
ly constructed,  it  is  certainly  worth 
while  to  consider  this  simple  plan, 
which  is  applicable  to  any  house  in 
any  situation,  and  can  hardly  get  out  of  order  practi- 
cally, for  when  the  exposed  surface  freezes  up  in  win- 
ter, no  harm  is  done,  as  there  is  nothing  to  burst,  and 
no  evaporation  takes  place  in  very  cold  weather; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  if  a  long  drought  occurs  in 
summer,  a  few  pails  of  water  poured  in  from  time  to 
time  will  set  matters  right  till  a  shower  comes.  Every 
water-closet,  either  external  or  internal,  should  have  a 
fair-sized  window  in  it,  so  hung  that  the  upper  half,  at 
least,  will  move  up  and  down. 

It  is  a  peculiarity  of  warm,  soapy  wash-water,  that 
it  very  readily  deposits  its  greasy  particles  in  passing 
along  a  cold  drain-pipe ;  and  to  avoid  the  inconven- 
ience that  otherwise  ensues  at  short  intervals  of  time, 
both  from  foulness  and  stoppage,  it  is  desirable  to 
construct  a  small,  tight  cess-pool  near  that  part  of  the 
house  in  which  the  wash-trays  or  sink  are  situated — 
say  three  feet  in  diameter  and  twelve  feet  from  the 
main  wall,  with  a  trap  and  overflow  into  the  main 
drain,  arranged  as  shown  at  D,  on  the  opposite  page, 
and  with  a  piece  of  straight  pipe  into  it  that  can  be 
cleaned  its  whole  length  from  the  inside  of  the  house 
by  taking  out  an  air-tight  stopper  and  inserting  a  long 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


61 


stick  and  old  cloth.  It  must  also  have  a  cover-stone 
at  the  top,  and  it  is  well  to  form 
a  connection  with  a  rain-water  or 
other  pipe  for  ventilation.  By 
this  arrangement  the  greasy  wa- 
ter passes  into  the  straight  pipe, 
and  thence  into  this  small  cess- 
pool, in  which  the  greasy  matter 
rises  at  once  to  the  surface  of  the 
water,  where  it  cools  and  coagu- 
lates harmlessly,  while  the  mere 
dirty  liquid  passes  under  the  trap 
and  into  the  main  drain.  Once  a 
year,  perhaps,  the  pipe  and  small 
cess-pool  should  be  cleaned  out; 
but  it  will  be  readily  seen  that  this  is  a  simple  and 
short  operation.  From  the  omission  to  take  some 
precaution  of  this  kind,  families  are  frequently  an- 
noyed both  by  bad  smells  from  their  drains  (for  this 
greasy,  soapy  deposit  is  more  foul  than  any  other) 
and  by  the  inconvenience  and  expense  of  taking  up 
and  relaying  long  lengths  of  stopped-up  drain-pipe  ev- 
ery now  and  then. 

Having  thus  briefly  remarked  on  the  plan  or  con- 
venient arrangement  of  the  accommodation,  we  pro- 
ceed to  the  artistic  design  of  rural  buildings,  particu- 
larly of  their  exteriors,  and  we  must  take  care,  at  the 
outset,  not  to  be  deceived  as  to  the  true  principles 
and  laws  that  regulate  this  important  part  of  the 
subject. 

Architecture  is  entirely  the  invention  of  man,  and, 
as  it  expresses  his  needs  and  his  nature,  it  must  neces- 
sarily be  regulated  by  the  laws  to  which  he  is  subject. 
At  the  same  time,  it  is  equally  clear  that  it  can  have 


62 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


no  independent  laws  of  its  own,  simply  because  it  has 
no  independent  existence.  As  it  seeks  to  please  the 
eye,  its  forms  and  colors  should  be  carefully  designed 
in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  the  eye,  or  it  will  be  a 
failure,  so  far  as  this  organ  is  concerned.  As  it  ad- 
dresses itself  to  the  intellect,  it  ought  to  be  orderly 
and  without  any  appearance  of  accident  in  its  concep- 
tion, or  it  will  appear  unintellectual.  As  it  appeals 
to  the  heart,  it  requires  to  be  forcibly  and  artistically 
true  in  its  expression,  or  it  will  remain  a  lifeless  col- 
lection of  mere  building  materials;  and  as  it  ministers 
to  the  soul,  it  must  be  beautiful  and  pure  in  its  inten- 
tion, or  it  will  be  ugly  and  baneful  in  its  influence. 
It  is  always  the  mirror  of  its  age,  accurately  reflecting 
the  customs,  morals,  and  science  that  prevail  in  any 
nation  at  a  given  period ;  and  as  these  have  been  dis- 
similar at  different  times  and  places,  architecture  has 
naturally  crystallized  in  various  parts  of  the  world  into 
what  we  call  separate  styles.  Still,  we  must  never  for- 
get that  the  elaborate  divisions  that  have  thus  sprung 
up,  expressed  by  such  words  as  Grecian,  Roman,  Goth- 
ic, or  Hindoo,  belong  to  the  history,  not  the  art,  of 
architecture.  The  self-same  geometry  shows  itself 
transparently  in  all  styles,  fashions,  and  orders.  The 
prismatic  colors  are  permanent  facts.  Human  nature 
is  to-day  what  it  always  was,  and  always  will  be,  till 
man  ceases  to  exist  as  man.  There  is,  therefore,  open 
to  us,  if  we  choose  to  adopt  it,  one  broad,  natural,  open- 
air  standard  of  criticism  belonging  to  all  architectural 
works,  irrespective  of  style  or  fashion.  And  as  this 
standard  is  simple  and  intelligible,  it  is  to  be  preferred 
to  any  narrow,  sectional  rules  dependent  on  the  laws 
of  this  style,  or  the  regulations  of  that  order,  or  the  re- 
quirements of  some  special  professor.    We  may  each, 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


63 


if  we  choose  to  take  the  trouble,  go  to  the  fountain- 
head  and  decide  for  ourselves. 

The  points  of  climate  and  atmosphere  require,  in 
all  countries,  careful  local  analysis  before  the  interior 
arrangement  of  any  habitation  can  be  successfully 
adapted  to  its  purpose  as  a  healthy,  convenient  resi- 
dence. And  they  certainly  demand  no  less  study, 
though  in  another  way,  if  its  external  appearance  is 
to  be  judicious  and  tasteful.  In  the  plan,  indeed,  each 
sense,  in  turn,  has  to  be  duly  considered,  while,  in  its 
artistic  effect,  but  one  is  appealed  to.  Yet  this  one  is 
the  most  important  of  all;  for  the  light  of  the  body  is 
the  eye,  and  it  is  to  the  eye,  with  the  infinite  host  of 
progressive  ideas,  to  which  it  acts  as  the  mysterious 
portal,  that  the  design  of  every  building  has  the  op- 
portunity of  artistically  ministering. 

Throughout  the  whole  of  nature  we  perceive  a  strong 
love  for  balance,  every  appearance  of  repose  depending 
entirely  on  an  equilibrium  of  antagonistic  forces ;  and 
as  this  state  of  sensitive  balance  is  the  only  natural 
condition  of  true  life  and  joy  in  any  exercise  of  the 
human  faculties,  the  eye  partakes  of  the  universal  de- 
sire, earnestly  seeking  for  it  in  all  examples  of  form 
and  color,  including  light  and  shade,  in  all  their  va- 
rieties. 

We  may  with  propriety,  so  far  as  our  subject  is  con- 
cerned, call  this  balance  proportion  when  speaking  of 
form,  and  harmony  when  speaking  of  color.  Still,  it  is 
not  sufficient  that  the  various  parts  of  a  building  should 
be  in  proportion  to  each  other,  or  that  it  should  be,  as 
a  whole,  harmonious  in  its  actual  coloring.  It  must 
also  possess  these  qualities  when  considered  with  refer- 
ence to  climate,  scenery,  and  surrounding  objects.  One 
peculiarity  of  the  American  climate  is  an  absence  of  hu- 


04 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


midity  in  the  atmosphere.  The  weather  is  generally 
clear,  and  the  pure,  dry  air  is  so  transparent,  that  it 
permits  a  distinctness  of  outline  to  objects  even  at  a 
considerable  distance  from  the  eye.  This  habitual 
freedom  from  moisture  is  not  confined  to  any  season 
of  the  year.  We  have,  undoubtedly,  misty,  and  even 
foggy  days,  and  these  occur  not  unfrequently  in  the 
transition  from  winter  to  spring;  but  for  the  greater 
part  of  the  summer,  and  during  the  fall  and  cold 
months,  the  bright  sun  shines  out  week  after  week 
with  little  intermission.  In  Italy  or  the  East  the  air 
also  allows  remote  objects  to  be  very  clearly  seen;  but 
it  is,  at  the  same  time,  so  suffused  with  an  attenuated, 
almost  imperceptible,  hazy  medium,  that  the  direct, 
glaring  rays  of  the  sun  are  subdued  and  softened  be- 
fore they  meet  the  eye,  and  a  delicate  gradation  of 
perspective  distance,  with  an  agreeable  variety  of  har- 
monious half-tints,  is  the  natural  result.  In  America 
this  seldom  occurs.  The  supply  of  light  is  usually 
free  from  any  mellowing  veil :  it  is,  therefore,  color- 
less or  white,  and  very  decided  in  its  pictorial  charac- 
ter. A  few  Indian  Summer  days  in  November  give 
us,  indeed,  some  exquisitely-beautiful  opportunities  for 
the  study  of  vaporous,  dreamy  effects ;  but  these  are 
soon  enjoyed,  and  pass  away,  leaving  the  ordinary, 
translucent,  unclouded  character  of  the  atmosphere 
more  apparent  than  ever. 

The  light  in  America  being,  therefore,  powerful  and 
somewhat  trying  to  the  eye,  it  seems  desirable  to  se- 
lect arrangements  of  form  and  color  in  rural  architect- 
ure that  will  rather  relieve  than  increase  this  fatiguing 
effect.  It  is  a  well-known  fact  that,  if  a  person  looks 
steadfastly  for  a  length  of  time  at  any  decidedly  red 
surface,  the  next  object  that  occupies  his  attention  will 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES.  65 

have  in  it  a  tinge  of  green,  no  matter  what  its  real 
color  may  be.  Nature  thus  seeks  to  restore  the  equi- 
librium, and  the  strained  organ  is  somewhat  refreshed; 
but  it  will  naturally  be  much  better  satisfied  if  the  ob- 
ject happens  to  be  of  a  cool,  green  tint,  for  the  bal- 
ance will  then  at  once  be  rapidly  and  agreeably  re-es- 
tablished. If  we  apply  to  form  also  the  optical  lesson 
we  thus  learn  with  regard  to  color,  it  would  seem  that 
we  ought  to  avoid  square,  monotonous  masses,  and 
regular,  unbroken  extent  of  surface  in  American  rural 
architecture,  because  the  climate  rarely  supplies  the 
shifting,  mellow  light  in  which  such  simple  forms  ap- 
pear to  advantage. 

The  sky-line  of  a  building  should  undoubtedly  be  de- 
termined, in  a  great  measure,  by  the  scenery  in  which 
it  is  to  be  located,  and  it  may  be  either  subdued  or 
picturesque,  according  to  the  circumstances  of  each 
case.  But  the  plan,  which  regulates  the  general  de- 
sign of  the  mass,  and  the  details,  may,  with  advant- 
age, be  picturesque  in  almost  every  situation ;  for,  in 
this  climate,  the  eye  will  be  more  likely  to  take  pleas- 
ure in  a  rural  composition  that  consists  of  a  group  of 
forms  well  connected  and  massed  together  into  one  in- 
dividual whole,  than  in  a  study  characterized  by  sym- 
metrical uniformity,  however  complete  it  may  be ;  for 
the  former  suggests,  at  the  very  outset,  a  freedom  from 
effort,  and  offers  the  opportunity  for  a  gradual  exam- 
ination, if  preferred,  whereas  the  latter  must  be  grasped 
in  all  its  completeness  at  once,  and  can  only  be  truly 
enjoyed  as  a  whole:  and  this  naturally  involves  a 
more  decided  and  continual  effort  on  the  part  of  the 
eye  than  is  required  in  the  other  case.  If  the  design 
is  small,  or  on  an  economical  scale,  it  may  be  incon- 
venient to  have  any  breaks  in  the  plan  of  the  walls ; 

E 


66 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


but  some  degree  of  picturesqueness  can  always  be  ob- 
tained by  the  treatment  of  the  roof-lines,  or  by  the  use 
of  verandas,  porches,  or  bay-windows ;  and  these  feat- 
ures, if  well  arranged,  are  very  valuable  in  any  case, 
for  they  help  to  supply  the  variety  of  light  and  shade 
which  is  so  much  needed.  The  introduction  of  circu- 
lar-headed windows,  circular  projections,  or  verandas, 
and  of  curved  lines  in  the  design  of  the  roof,  and  in 
the  details  generally,  will  always  have  an  easy,  agree- 
able effect,  if  well  managed;  and  curved  roofs  especial- 
ly deserve  to  be  introduced  more  frequently  than  has 

hitherto  been  the  prac- 
tice here.  The  accom- 
panying sketches,  A,  B, 
C,  and  D,  show  a  few  of 
their  varieties. 

The  question  of  color 
is  a  most  interesting  one 
in  any  design  for  a  coun- 
try house,  and  seems  at 
present  but  little  under- 
stood in  America,  by  far 
the  greater  number  of  houses  being  simply  painted 
white,  with  bright  green  blinds.  By  this  means  each 
residence  is  distinctly  protruded  from  the  surrounding 
scenery,  and  instead  of  grouping  and  harmonizing  with 
it,  asserts  a  right  to  carry  on  a  separate  business  on 
its  own  account ;  and  this  lack  of  sympathy  between 
the  building  and  its  surroundings  is  very  disagreeable 
to  an  artistic  eye.  Even  a  harsh,  vulgar  outline  may 
often  pass  without  particular  notice  in  a  view  of  rural 
scenery,  if  the  mass  is  quiet  and  harmonious  in  color ; 
while  a  very  tolerable  composition  may  injure  materi- 
ally the  views  near  it  if  it  is  painted  white,  the  human 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


67 


eye  being  so  constituted  that  it  will  be  constantly  held 
in  bondage  by  this  striking  blot  of  crude  light,  and 
compelled  to  give  it  unwilling  attention. 

When  a  palace,  like  that  of  Versailles,  is  erected  in 
the  midst  of  formal  gardens  and  terraces  on  a  very 
large  scale,  and  so  arranged  that  it  is  the  principal 
feature  from  every  point  of  view,  it  is  not  inappropri- 
ate that  it  should  be  of  white  marble.  There  is  no- 
thing more  interesting  for  the  eye  to  rest  upon  than 
the  building,  and  the  light  and  shade  of  the  architect- 
ural decorations,  together  with  the  general  magnifi- 
cence of  the  composition,  are  set  forth  to  advantage; 
for  pure  white,  even  in  large  masses,  is  only  disagree- 
able to  the  eye  when  it  forces  into  prominent  notice 
objects  of  secondary  importance. 

In  country  houses  the  design  has  to  be  adapted  to 
the  location,  and  not  the  location  to  the  design,  for  it 
is  undesirable,  and  generally  impracticable,  to  make 
the  natural  landscape  subservient  to  the  architectural 
composition.  Woods,  fields,  mountains,  and  rivers 
will  be  more  important  than  the  houses  that  are  built 
among  them ;  and  every  attempt  to  force  individual 
buildings  into  prominent  notice  is  an  evidence  either 
of  a  vulgar  desire  for  notoriety  at  any  sacrifice,  or  of 
an  ill-educated  eye  and  taste.  The  colors  of  rural 
buildings  should  be  carefully  varied.  They  should  be 
often  cheerful  and  light,  sometimes  neutral,  seldom 
dark,  and  never  black  or  white ;  and  there  is,  fortu- 
nately, no  end  to  the  combinations  of  tints  that  may 
be  used  in  painting  a  house.  The  constant  recurrence 
of  about  the  same  requirements  will,  of  course,  lead  to 
much  similarity  in  plan,  particularly  in  small  build- 
ings; but  the  monotony  that  this  would  occasion  may 
be  agreeably  relieved  by  variety  in  color,  both  in  the 


68 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


interior  and  exterior.  Different  patterns  of  paper  will 
make  two  rooms  of  the  same  proportions  no  longer 
look  alike,  and  the  same  result  will  be  obtained  on  the 
exterior  by  adopting  different  tints  for  the  walls  and 
the  wood-work.  Another  important  point  to  be  con- 
sidered is,  that  it  is  entirely  insufficient  to  use  only 
one  or  two  shades  of  color  for  each  house.  Every 
rural  building  requires  four  tints  to  make  it  a  pleas- 
ant object  in  the  way  of  color ;  and  this  variety  costs 
but  little  more  than  monotonous  repetition,  while  it 
adds  much  to  the  completeness  of  the  effect.  The  main 
walls  should  be  of  some  agreeable  shade  of  color ;  the 
roof-trimmings,  verandas,  and  other  wood-work  being 
either  of  a  different  color  or  of  a  different  shade  of  the 
same  color,  so  that  a  contrast,  but  not  a  harsh  one, 
may  be  established.  The  third  color,  not  widely  dif- 
ferent from  the  other  wood-work,  should  be  applied  to 
the  solid  parts  of  the  Venetian  blinds,  and  the  mova- 
ble slats  should  be  painted  of  the  fourth  tint*  This 
last  should  be  by  far  the  darkest  used  on  the  prem- 
ises, for  the  effect  of  a  glass  window  or  opening  in  a 
wall  is  always  dark  when  seen  from  a  distance ;  and 
if  this  natural  fact  is  not  remembered,  and  the  shut- 
ters are  painted  the  same  color  as  the  rest  of  the 
house,  a  blank,  uninteresting  effect  will  be  produced, 
for  when  the  blinds  are  closed,  which  is  generally  the 
case,  the  house,  except  to  a  person  very  near  it,  will 
appear  to  be  without  any  windows  at  all.  This  error 
is  often  fallen  into,  and  requires  to  be  carefully  guard- 
ed against.  It  is,  however,  a  very  simple  and  easy 
matter  thus  in  a  few  words  to  lay  down  common-sense 
rules  that  may  be  advantageously  followed  in  painting 
all  country  houses,  but  it  is  a  very  different  affair  to 
overcome  the  difficulties  of  ignorance  and  prejudice. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


69 


In  some  cases  the  house-painters  themselves  show  a 
laudable  desire  to  escape  from  monotonous  repetition ; 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  they  are  often  very  trouble- 
some opponents  to  reform  in  this  matter.  And  this  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at ;  for  a  mechanic  who  has  been 
brought  up  on  a  chalk-white  and  spinach-green  diet 
ever  since  he  was  old  enough  to  handle  a  brush,  can 
hardly  help  having  but  little  taste  for  delicate  variety, 
because  a  perpetual  contemplation  of  white  lead  and 
verdigris  is  calculated  to  have  the  same  effect  on  the 
eye  that  incessant  tobacco-chewing  has  on  the  palate : 
in  each  case  the  organ  is  rendered  incapable  of  nice 
appreciation. 

Any  person  who  may  wish  to  have  his  residence  ju- 
diciously painted  will  do  well  to  depend  on  himself  to 
make  the  selection  of  colors :  and  if  he  will  but  study 
the  matter  simply  and  fairly,  trusting  to  his  real  natu- 
ral instinctive  taste,  and  will  regulate  his  decision  by 
his  private  feeling  for  what  is  agreeable  or  otherwise, 
instead  of  by  what  he  finds  next  door  to  him,  he  will 
at  once  cut  loose  from  conventional  absurdity,  and 
probably  arrive  at  a  result  that  will  be  artistic  and 
pleasing. 

It  is  highly  satisfactory  that,  in  this  matter  of  color, 
which  is  so  important  to  rural  art,  there  is  constant  op- 
portunity for  improvement.  The  necessity  for  re-paint- 
ing every  two  or  three  years  fortunately  compels  the 
question  to  remain  always  an  open  one.  Ill-planned 
roads  and  ugly  houses  are  troublesome  to  alter;  but 
improved  taste  may  readily  satisfy  its  craving  for  har- 
monious color,  which  will  give,  in  every  instance,  a 
most  liberal  return  for  whatever  outlay  of  thought  or 
money  may  be  judiciously  bestowed  on  it. 

After  the  plan  and  general  design  of  the  house  are 


70 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


decided  on,  and  its  prominent  features  are  adapted  to 
the  peculiarities  of  the  site,  the  point  of  construction 
yet  remains  to  be  settled,  and  it  is  one  that  affects  both 
the  comfort  and  the  pocket  of  the  party  interested  in 
a  very  decided  manner. 

Houses  may  be  built  of  wood,  brick,  or  stone,  and 
each  of  these  is  well  adapted  for  special  purposes. 
Wood  is  undoubtedly  an  unsatisfactory  material  in 
one  point  of  view,  because  it  fails  in  expressing  per- 
manent durability;  but  there  are  many  positions  in 
which  it  may  be  used  with  advantage  for  out-build- 
ings or  small  cottages,  or  for  larger  buildings  that  are 
required  for  temporary  purposes. 

Circumstances,  indeed,  may  arise,  in  which  it  is  de- 
sirable to  construct  quite  good  houses  of  wood.  Thus, 
if  the  rough  stone  of  the  neighborhood  is  absorbent 
of  moisture,  the  lime  inferior,  the  brick  porous,  and 
good  timber  easily  obtainable,  a  house  built  of  wood, 
and  filled  in  with  common  brick,  will  be  the  most  com- 
fortable and  durable  residence  that  can  be  erected  with- 
out sending  an  inconvenient  distance  for  material.  It 
is,  therefore,  quite  necessary  to  study  the  capabilities 
and  varieties  of  wooden  construction,  although  it  is 
unquestionably  inferior  to  a  more  solid  and  substan- 
tial method  of  building.  One  plan  is  to  use  vertical 
boarding,  with  battens  to  cover  the  joints,  for  an  ex- 
ternal covering.  This  mode  has  some  advantages,  and 
its  appearance  is  often  preferred.  It  is  well  suited 
for  barns  or  small  buildings,  where  the  battens  are 
relatively  large  enough  to  form  part  of  the  design ; 
but  when  used  on  a  larger  scale,  it  is  apt  to  give  a 
striped,  liny  appearance  to  a  house  that  injures  its 
broad,  general  effect,  and  to  draw  particular  attention 
to  the  fact  that  it  is  built  of  wood.    This  fact  should 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


71 


not  in  any  way  be  denied ;  but  it  is  not  desirable  to 
make  it  especially  prominent,  as  if  it  was  something 
to  be  particularly  proud  of.  It  is  for  this  reason  that 
the  ordinary  mode  of  horizontal  siding  seems  prefera- 
ble in  most  situations.  It  offers  a  simple,  fair  sur- 
face, that  can  be  broadly  treated  both  in  form  and  col- 
or, for  the  slight  projection  of  one  board  over  the  oth- 
er does  not  give  sufficient  variety  of  light  and  shade  to 
interfere  with  the  general  effect  as  a  whole.  Another 
method  is  to  groove  and  tongue  the  boards  together, 
and  bring  all  to  one  smooth  surface.  This  plan  has 
nothing  to  recommend  it;  it  is  more  costly,  more  like- 
ly to  get  out  of  order  by  expansion  and  contraction, 
and  is  scarcely  more  agreeable  in  appearance.  It  is 
possible,  instead  of  using  siding,  to  cover  a  building 
with  shingles,  and  to  cut  them  into  ornamental  pat- 
terns. And  this  was  often  done  by  the  Dutch  set- 
tlers ;  but  the  projection  is  so  slight,  that  not  much 
additional  effect  is  gained,  except,  perhaj>s,  in  quite 
small  buildings,  for  the  impression  that  a  residence  of 
tolerable  size  makes  on  the  eye  depends  very  little  on 
such  merely  superficial  detail. 

There  is  a  very  picturesque  mode  adopted  in  Europe 
of  building  what  are  called  half-timbered  houses ;  that 
is,  heavy  frames  of  wood  filled  in  with  brick,  and  plas- 
tered on  the  outside  on  the  same  face  as  the  framing- 
pieces.  This  plan  is,  I  think,  scarcely  admissible  here, 
except  in  particular  localities,  because  the  alternations 
of  heat  and  cold  are  so  great  that,  in  time,  the  plaster 
is  likely  to  separate  from  the  wood,  and  the  cracks  thus 
formed  must  be  fatal  to  the  soundness  of  the  building. 
In  the  neighborhood  of  Boston,  however,  I  am  told 
that  there  are  some  specimens  of  this  mode  of  con* 
st ruction  that  seem  to  stand  fairly. 


72 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


One  main  thing  that  has  to  be  attended  to  in  wood- 
en buildings  is  to  make  the  corner-boards,  the  facias, 
the  architraves,  and  base-boards  broad  and  heavy ;  for 
unless  this  is  done,  the  house,  however  strongly  con- 
structed, must  inevitably  look  mean  and  contemptible. 
A  double  corner-board  may  be  introduced  in  some 
cases  with  manifest  advantage. 

Pine  is  undoubtedly  a  better  material  than  hemlock, 
yet  the  latter  is  much  cheaper,  and,  if  of  fair  quality, 
is  nearly  as  good  for  constructive  purposes  as  pine. 
It  is,  therefore,  quite  sufficient  in  all  ordinary  build- 
ings to  construct  the  frame,  joists,  partitions,  and  roofs 
of  hemlock,  using  clear  pine  for  the  external  and  in- 
ternal fittings  and  finish.  Oak  is  the  best,  and,  in  the 
end,  the  most  economical  material  to  use  for  heavy 
timber  across  wide  openings.  Chestnut,  in  short 
lengths  and  well  supported,  is  well  suited  for  rough 
joists  or  sleepers  required  for  boarded  floors  close  to 
the  earth ;  and  locust-wood,  though  costly,  is  invalua- 
ble in  moist  situations  for  any  posts,  furring  strips,  or 
other  wood-work  that  comes  in  direct  connection  with 
damp  basement  walls.  For  covering  roofs  of  houses 
in  the  country  there  is  scarcely  any  good  material  so 
generally  available  as  shingles,  if  the  pitch  is  not  too 
flat.  Slate  forms  an  excellent  covering,  if  of  superior 
quality  and  well  put  on,  so  as  not  to  be  loosened  or 
blown  off  in  fierce  storms.  Tin  expands  and  con- 
tracts, and  has  a  tendency  to  get  out  of  order,  but- 
still  is  a  very  good  roofing  material  when  properly 
put  on.  Zinc  is  worthless.  Thick  canvas  is  good  for 
flat  veranda  roofs  or  small  surfaces,  being  preferable 
to  tin,  inasmuch  as  it  suffers  less  by  alternations  of 
temperature,  reflects  less  heat,  makes  less  noise  in 
rainy  weather,  and  takes  less  time  to  put  on. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


73 


It  has  been  the  practice  hitherto  to  depend  on  the 
Welsh  slate  almost  entirely,  and  as  this  is  but  of  one 
uniform  gray  tint,  nothing  is  gained  by  its  use  as  far 
as  appearance  is  concerned.  But  lately,  new  Ameri- 
can quarries,  supplying  slate  of  different  colors,  have 
been  opened  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  and 
worked  with  success.  The  slate  that  comes  from  the 
Eagle  quarries  in  Vermont  is  of  two  tints :  the  one  a 
rich  purple-gray,  the  other  a  delicate  green.  This 
slate,  when  arranged  on  a  roof  in  stripes  or  patterns, 
so  that  the  colors  are  equally  represented,  has  a  very 
agreeable  effect,  and  one  that  is  far  superior  to  that 
produced  by  any  shingle  or  metal  roof.  Whenever 
slate  is  used,  precautions  should  be  taken  to  prevent 
any  drift  of  fine  snow  under  the  slates.  The  joints 
should  be  laid  in  mortar,  the  boarding  should  be 
matched,  and  the  pitch  of  the  roof  should  not  be  at 
all  flat.  In  some  cases  tarred  paper  is  laid  over  the 
boarding  as  an  additional  safeguard  from  drift. 

The  great  advantage  of  a  shingle  roof  is,  that  it  is 
scarcely  possible  for  it  to  get  out  of  order  till  the  wood 
absolutely  rots ;  and  this  takes  many  years  to  accom- 
plish if  the  shingles  are  tolerable  and  the  work  well 
done.  It  also  allows  of  considerable  expansion,  con- 
traction, and  even  settlement,  without  the  slightest  in- 
jury to  its  efficiency.  It  is  agreeably  varied  in  sur- 
face, and  assumes,  by  age,  a  soft,  pleasant,  neutral  tint 
that  harmonizes  with  any  color  that  may  be  used  in 
the  building.  A  shingle  roof  in  cities,  or  even  close- 
ly-built villages,  is  objectionable  in  case  of  fire,  be- 
cause the  loose,  lighted  chips  from  an  adjacent  burn- 
ing building  will  be  likely  to  inflame  it.  But  this  ob- 
jection does  not  amount  to  much  in  a  detached  build- 
ing in  the  country,  the  plain  fact  being  that  there  is 


74 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


a  risk ;  but,  all  things  considered,  it  is  worth  while  to 
incur  it. 

There  are  several  methods  of  making  wooden  build- 
ings capable  of  resisting  the  cold  and  heat,  but  none 
seem  so  good  as  filling  in  with  common  brick  nearly 
the  full  thickness  of  the  studs,  and  then  lathing  and 
plastering  on  the  inside.  This  mode  is  simple,  cheap, 
and,  besides  answering  its  more  immediate  purposes, 
it  serves  to  keep  out  the  rats  and  mice  which  are 
apt,  after  a  time,  to  scramble  noisily  about  a  wooden 
house,  or,  what  is  worse,  die  and  be  disagreeable  in 
some  undiscoverable,  out-of-the-way  place  behind  the 
plastering. 

Hard  brick  set  in  good  mortar  is  an  admirable  ma- 
terial for  building  the  walls  of  a  country  house,  and  is 
a  mode  that  admits  of  considerable  variety  in  con- 
struction and  finish.  An  eight-inch  solid  wall  may  be 
used  if  the  building  is  of  moderate  size,  but  it  ought 
not  to  be  weakened  by  building  floor  joists  or  furring 
timber  into  it.  The  wall  should  be  a  solid  brick  wall 
throughout.  The  floor  joists  should  be  supported  on 
iron  rests  affixed  to  them,  and  built  into  the  wall  as 
the  work  proceeds.  The  furring  strips  should  be  the 
thickness  of  a  mortar  joint  and  half  the  width  of  a 
brick,  so  that,  in  the  event  of  their  decay,  the  Avails 
will  remain  thoroughly  sound.  An  attention  to  this 
important  point  in  the  construction  of  all  walls  is 
highly  necessary. 

In  city  architecture  the  joists  are  commonly  built 
into  the  walls  story  after  story,  thereby  materially 
weakening  the  brick-work,  and  causing  a  result  in 
case  of  fire  that  is  truly  disastrous ;  for  when  a  hole 
is  burned  in  any  of  the  floors,  the  unsupported  joists, 
acting  as  powerful  levers,  very  soon  heave  over  the 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


75 


walls  into  which  they  are  built,  and  then  utter  ruin 
of  the  building  of  course  ensues. 

In  a  range  of  stores,  called  Commercial  Block,  that 
we  designed  for  Mr.  Milton  J.  Stone,  and  which  is 
now  erected  in  Quincy  granite  on  Commercial  Wharf, 
Boston,  the  joists  are  supported  on  heavy  stone  cor; 
bels  jutting  out  from  the  walls ;  and  in  a  warehouse 
lately  finished  in  Washington  Street,  New  York,  for 
Messrs.  Robins  and  Co.,  the  projections  are  of  brick. 
The  iron  rests  described  above  are  thus  rendered  un- 
necessary; but  in  domestic  buildings  it  is  generally 
desirable  to  preserve  an  uninterrupted  cornice  line, 
and  for  this  reason  the  iron  rests,  as  they  take  up 
very  little  room,  may  be  introduced  with  advantage 
in  ordinary  houses.  One  great  point  that  is  thus 
gained  is  to  keep  the  timbers  entirely  clear  of  the 
damp  external  wall.  Common  sense  can  not  fail  to 
see  the  propriety  of  taking  some  precautions  on  this 
point ;  but  if  any  other  authority  is  asked  for,  we  need 
not  be  at  a  loss,  for  biblical  authority  shows  that  it 
was  considered  in  the  construction  of  Solomons  Tem- 
ple. In  1st  Kings,  c.  vi.,  v.  6,  we  are  told  that  he 
made  narrowed  rests  round  about,  that  the  beams 
should  not  be  fastened  in  the  walls  of  the  house. 

Design  No.  1  which  is  not  a  small  house,  is  built 
in  this  manner,  with  iron  corbels.  The  proprietor  was 
perfectly  willing  that  the  brick-work  should  be  one  foot 
thick ;  but  as  the  plan  is  so  arranged  that  the  walls 
assist  each  other,  and  are,  moreover,  strengthened  with 
buttresses,  the  extra  four  inches  of  brick-work  seemed 
a  waste  of  material,  and  the  house  is  accordingly  built 
of  eight-inch  brick-work  throughout,  and  appears  to 
be,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  a  strong  and  substan- 
tial building. 


76 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


Solid  walls  require  to  be  furred  off  on  the  inside  to 
receive  lathing  and  plastering;  and  this  applies  as 
forcibly  to  a  wall  eight  feet  thick  as  to  one  that  is 
eight  inches.  A  wall  one  foot  thick  will  be  strong 
enough  for  almost  any  country  house ;  and  all  the  re- 
marks that  have  been  made  with  regard  to  eight-inch 
walls  apply  also  to  those  that  are  thicker. 

Hollow  brick  walls  have  many  advantages.  They 
are  fire-proof,  they  keep  out  cold  and  heat  very  effi- 
ciently, they  leave  a  good  place  for  boxing  or  sliding- 
shutters,  and  are  very  firm  and  substantial  if  well  con- 
structed. A  wall  eight  inches  thick,  with  a  hollow 
space  of  three,  four,  or  five  inches,  and  an  inner  wall 
of  four  inches,  is  the  thinnest  hollow  wall  that  can  be 
properly  built,  and  it  must  be  a  very  large  building 
indeed  to  require  any  thing  thicker.  A  course  of  slate 
laid  in  cement  should  be  built  in  thoroughly  the  whole 
thickness  of  the  wall  on  the  line  of  the  base-course,  to 
prevent  capillary  attraction  taking  place  between  the 
foundation  wall  and  the  inner  thickness  of  four-inch 
brick,  on  which  it  is  proposed  on  each  floor  to  plaster 
without  lathing.  The  bond  between  the  outer  and  in- 
ner wall  should  be  of  strips  of  iron,  painted  or  tarred ; 
for  if  brick  bond  is  used,  there  will  be  a  slight  connec- 
tion at  intervals  between  the  two  walls,  and  in  driving 
storms  some  damp  may  possibly  get  through.  The 
two  thicknesses  of  brick  must  be  entirely  and  totally 
distinct  if  a  satisfactory  result  is  to  be  arrived  at.  In 
this  trying  climate  one  thing,  also,  must  be  borne  in 
mind,  that  brick  is  a  readier  conductor  of  heat  than 
wood,  and,  consequently,  that  a  brick  inner  wall  will 
absorb  more  of  the  heat  of  a  room  than  a  wall  that  is 
furred  off.  It  will,  however,  retain  the  heat  longer, 
and  thus,  when  the  house  is  once  thoroughly  warmed, 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


77 


it  will  appear  to  be  the  warmer  mode  of  construction 
of  the  two.  The  fact,  however,  that  the  brick  wall  is 
so  good  a  conductor  of  heat  may  operate  prejudicially 
if  the  house  is  shut  up  and  unwarmed  for  a  lengthened 
period,  because  the  moisture  in  the  air  being  warmer 
than  the  wall  will  be  apt  to  condense  on  its  surface 
like  frost  on  a  window-pane,  and  the  wall  may  possi- 
bly give  signs  of  dampness,  and  even  injure  a  delicate 
paper,  when  it  is  in  reality  as  impervious  to  moisture 
as  the  frosted  glass  already  referred  to.  This  is  an 
objection  to  hollow  walls  that  it  does  not  seem  possi- 
ble to  overcome,  and  which  has  to  be  considered  be- 
fore deciding  on  their  adoption  in  a  house. 

Many  houses  are  built  with  hollow  walls,  and  then 
furred  off  on  the  inside ;  but  there  is  more  labor  in  con- 
structing a  hollow  wall  than  a  solid  one,  and  the  ad- 
vantage is  not  very  apparent  when  furring  is  used,  ex- 
cept sliding-shutters  are  required. 

The  outside  surfaces  of  brick  walls  may  either  be 
left  in  their  natural  state,  or  covered  with  a  coat  of 
boiled  oil,  or  with  a  lime-wash,  or  painted  or  cemented 
either  with  or  without  a  subsequent  painting.  When 
the  materials  are  good  and  the  color  not  over  red,  or- 
dinary brick-work  in  its  natural  state,  if  pointed  with 
dark  mortar,  has  a  very  good  effect  for  country  houses, 
and  it  might  with  advantage  be  more  generally  left  un- 
touched than  it  is.  Creepers  would  then  grow  on  it 
without  being  interfered  with,  and  the  annoyance  and 
expense  of  lime-washing  or  painting  every  year  or  two 
would  be  avoided.  A  coat  of  boiled  oil  has  a  good  ef- 
fect where  more  expensive  face-brick  are  used,  both  in 
hardening  the  surface  and  equalizing  the  tint.  A  lime- 
wash  in  two  coats  is  a  cheap  and  effective  mode  of  cov- 
ering brick-work,  and  several  agreeable  tints  may  thus 


78 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


be  obtained.  Painting  a  wall  three  or  four  coats  of 
good  oil-paint  is  a  better,  though,  of  course,  more  ex- 
pensive method.  The  lime-wash  sometimes  acquires  a 
mouldy  look  on  the  stormy  side  of  the  house.  This  is 
avoided  by  the  use  of  paint,  and  any  shade  of  color  can 
thus  be  arrived  at.  Cement  may  be  used  with  advant- 
age when  the  quality  of  the  brick  is  poor;  but  it  is  un- 
desirable to  conceal  a  good  brick  wall  which  is  a  genu- 
ine, solid,  and  permanent  piece  of  construction,  under 
a  coat  of  cement,  which  offers  a  less  durable  surface. 
It  is  not  often,  indeed,  that  cement  stands  perfectly 
in  this  climate.  It  is  liable  to  scale  off  after  a  year 
cr  two ;  and  although  numbers  of  instances  might  be 
cited  in  which  it  has  been  quite  successful,  covered 
with  a  projecting  roof  and  thoroughly  painted,  it  is 
in  no  way,  that  I  can  see,  superior  to  a  good,  hard, 
well-constructed  brick  wall.  A  cement  surface  may, 
indeed,  at  a  considerable  expense,  be  lined,  tinted, 
sanded,  and  scored  up  and  clown  till  it  becomes  a  tol- 
erably fair  portrait  of  free-stone  for  a  few  months ; 
but  although  some  persons  may  consider  the  result 
handsome  and  satisfactory,  it  will  not  fail  to  convey 
to  others  the  same  disagreeable  impression  that  is  pro- 
duced by  seeing  the  human  countenance  dressed  up 
with  rouge  and  false  hair. 

For  covering  walls  of  porous  brick  or  inferior  stone 
cement  is  available  enough ;  and  those  who  are  con- 
stantly engaged  in  its  manufacture  and  use  speak  high- 
ly of  it  as  a  material  for  general  external  work,  even 
without  painting.  Still,  I  should  always  prefer  a  good 
brick  wall.  Yet  circumstances  will  arise  in  which  it  is 
desirable  to  try  the  experiment  of  cementing;  and  I 
therefore  transcribe  a  portion  of  an  interesting  letter 
I  lately  received  from  Mr.  Tompkins  of  the  Rondout 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


79 


cement  quarries  on  the  subject.  There  can,  indeed,  be 
no  doubt  but  that  the  success  of  the  work  depends 
quite  as  much  on  the  way  in  which  it  is  done  as  on 
the  material  used. 

"First,  saturate  the  surface  to  be  operated  upon 
with  water  used  abundantly  (a  force-pump  and  hose 
is  the  best  method).  Secondly,  make  a  wash  of  liquid 
cement,  as  for  inside  brick  walls,  applying  it  with  a 
brush,  so  that  all  small  cavities  may  be  entirely  filled. 
Then  spread  on  the  finishing  coat  about  a  quarter  of 
an  inch  in  thickness,  and  made  in  proportions  of  two 
of  sand  to  one  of  cement.  During  the  operation  of 
putting  on  this  second  coat,  the  first  coat  of  liquid  ce- 
ment should  be  kept  quite  damp  by  frequent  sprink- 
ling. After  the  cement  is  upon  the  wall,  it  is  im- 
portant that  it  should  be  sprinkled  with  water,  so  as 
to  keep  it  damp  for  a  week  or  two. 

"In  making  the  mortar  care  should  be  taken  to 
have  none  but  clean,  sharp  sand,  free  from  loam  and 
quick-sand.  If  taken  from  the  sea-shore  it  should  be 
very  thoroughly  washed  with  fresh  water  before  using. 
All  the  cement  required  is  just  so  much  as  will  be  suf- 
ficient to  coat  each  particle  of  sand.  The  sand  and 
cement  should  be  thoroughly  mixed  before  water  is 
applied,  and  water  should  be  applied  to  only  so  much 
as  will  be  used  immediately.  The  above  method  was 
adopted  in  stuccoing  the  walls  of  a  house  about  ten 
years  since,  and  they  are  now  as  perfect  as  when  first 
coated." 

When  thoroughly  trustworthy  cement  can  be  found 
that  does  not  require  painting,  some  agreeable  and 
honest  effects  may  be  produced  by  stamping  it  with  a 
pattern ;  but  till  then  it  is  a  material  that  had  better 
be  used  but  sparingly.    In  England  the  use  of  cement 


80 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


for  surface-work  has  exercised  a  most  pernicious  effect 
on  architecture.  "Compo"  fronts  now  swarm  in  town 
and  country.  Cheap  materials  cheaply  run  up,  and 
smeared  over  with  Portland  or  Roman  cement,  impose 
for  a  year  or  two,  perhaps,  on  the  passer-by.  But  the 
day  of  reckoning  soon  comes,  and  the  peeling,  crack- 
ing, spotty  complexion  that  the  false  stone  assumes 
proclaims  the  whole  affair  a  worthless  sham  and  con- 
temptible failure.  Fortunately  the  use  of  external  ce- 
ment has  made  no  great  progress  in  America  at  pres- 
ent, and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  more  genuine  modes 
of  construction  will  continue  to  be  preferred. 

A  very  agreeable  and  superior  method  for  rural 
buildings  is  to  combine  stone  of  some  quiet  color,  like 
brown  stone,  with  brick  of  any  color,  oiling  the  brick 
once  for  all,  but  leaving  the  stone  intact,  as  one  coat 
of  oil  will  utterly  destroy  its  texture  and  appearance. 
Wrought  stone  being  an  expensive  material,  this  meth- 
od is  not  likely  to  be  adopted  except  in  large  houses ; 
but  it  is  well  worth  while  to  consider  that  a  great  ul- 
timate saving  may  be  sometimes  made  by  a  compara- 
tively small  increased  outlay  in  the  first  instance,  and 
it  certainly  does  seem  unsatisfactory  in  a  house  of  any 
pretension  that  it  should  every  now  and  then  require 
to  be  covered  all  over  with  some  superficial  coating  to 
make  it  agreeable. 

The  simplest  method  of  building  with  stone  is  to 
use  the  gravel  wall.  This  is  a  wall  made  of  concrete, 
and  is  a  method  of  construction  of  considerable  an- 
tiquity, and  common  in  various  parts  of  Europe.  It 
is  described  in  detail  in  Mr.  Fowler  s  work  on  the  sub- 
ject. Under  favorable  circumstances  it  may  be  cheap- 
er than  brick ;  and  as  it  makes  as  good  a  wall  when 
thoroughly  executed,  there  are  many  situations  in 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


81 


which  it  must  be  desirable  to  use  it.  But  it  is  not 
much  in  demand  at  present,  and  has  no  perceptible 
advantage  over  a  rough  brick  wall.  It,  moreover,  re- 
quires to  be  plastered  or  cemented  on  the  outside  sur- 
face, which  is  troublesome. 

Rough  stone  walls  for  cottages  and  country  houses 
have  a  good  effect  if  the  situation  and  accessories  are 
consistent :  and  a  very  sound  and  picturesque-looking 
wall  may  be  constructed  by  using  small,  rough  stones 
for  the  body  of  the  work,  and  red  brick  for  the  angles 
and  window-dressings.  It  is  uncommon,  however,  in 
this  country  to  find  a  taste  suited  to  this  bold,  uncon- 
ventional treatment,  and  undoubtedly  for  a  year  or 
two,  till  the  creepers  have  grown  up,  it  may  look 
rough ;  but  the  ultimate  result  is  most  agreeable  and 
country-like,  and  such  a  surface  will  require  no  paint- 
ing or  lime-washing,  and  will  mellow  and  improve  ev- 
ery year. 

Houses  that  are  built  of  squared  brown  stone  have 
a  melancholy,  dingy,  monotonous,  and  uninteresting 
look,  and  it  is  a  material  that  ought  not  -to  be  used  in 
large,  flat  masses.  Marble  is  too  white  to  be  agreea- 
ble in  the  country.  Squared  blue  stone  is  cold,  pris- 
on-like, and  repellant  for  ten  or  twelve  years,  but  it 
then  begins  to  be  affected  by  the  weather,  and,  by  de- 
grees, assumes  a  very  beautiful,  soft,  golden-gray  tint. 
Ten  or  twelve  years,  however,  is  a  long  time  to  wait 
in  America.  Granite  is  still  colder  and  more  expres- 
sionless than  blue  stone,  with  the  additional  disad- 
vantage that  it  is  wholly  uninfluenced  by  time.  Stone 
from  Caen,  in  Normandy,  has  lately  been  introduced 
into  New  York,  and  is  used  to  some  extent.  It  is  a 
beautiful  material,  and  very  delicate  in  color,  but  un- 
equal in  quality,  unless  specially  imported  from  ivell- 

F 


82 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


known  firms.  It  seems,  however,  a  little  unnatural 
for  a  continent  like  this  to  seek  building  materials  in 
Europe,  and  there  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  a  strict 
geological  examination  will,  after  a  time,  supply  us 
with  many  new  varieties  of  building-stone.  A  capital 
free-stone,  of  a  pleasant,  soft  tint,  has  lately  come  into 
use,  brought  from  the  Dorchester  quarries,  "Westmore- 
land County,  New  Brunswick. 

As  it  is  only  proposed  in  these  remarks  to  give  a 
cursory  view  of  the  more  prominent  building  mate- 
rials and  modes  of  construction,  it  is  scarcely  neces- 
sary to  pursue  this  part  of  our  subject  into  all  its  va- 
rious branches,  and  we  may  take  leave  of  it  with  the 
general  recommendation  to  those  who  are  about  to 
build,  to  spare  no  pains  to  obtain  the  services  of  hon- 
est, intelligent  master-mechanics,  as  deficiencies  of  con- 
struction and  execution,  and  heavy  bills  of  extras,  are 
more  frequently  the  result  of  dull  incapacity  and  stu- 
pid neglect  than  of  a  grasping  disposition,  or  of  a  will- 
ful intention  to  deceive. 


It  only  remains  now,  before  entering  upon  the  gen- 
eral description  of  the  designs  that  form  the  staple  of 
this  volume,  to  take  a  passing  glance  at  the  principal 
features  of  detail  that  occur  in  country  residences  ;  and 
the  porch,  or  entrance,  suggests  itself  as  having  the 
priority  of  claim  to  our  notice  in  this  respect.  This 
part  of  the  design  is  the  first  that  appeals  to  the  at- 
tention of  a  visitor,  and  admits  of  much  character  and 
expression.  A  large  house  may  be  spoiled  by  a  mean 
porch,  and  the  interior  effect  of  a  small,  compact  house 
will  appear  dwarfed  and  contracted  if  it  is  approached 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


83 


through  a  pretentious  entrance-porch.  Experience  has 
developed  several  marked  varieties  of  design  in  this 
prominent  feature  of  every  attractive  rural  home,  and 
each  has  its  distinctive  peculiarity  of  plan  or  purpose. 
The  simplest  and  most  economical  way  to  obtain  the 
temporary  shelter  from  heat,  cold,  or  storm,  that  it  is 
the  office  of  a  porch  to  provide,  is  to  shut  off  a  recess 
from  the  interior  of  the  hall,  or  passage-way,  by  an  in- 
ner door.  This  method  is  shown  at 
A,  and  answers  in  practice  fairly 
enough,  but  it  does  not  express  its 
purpose  of  shelter  very  decidedly. 
It  suggests  the  idea  of  an  easy,  con- 
venient entrance  to  the  interior  of 
the  house,  but,  in  many  situations, 
*  we  want  more  than  this.  "We  need 

something  that  shall  indicate  the  protection  from  the 
weather  that  the  porch  offers,  and 
give  life,  and  light,  and  shade  to 
the  design.  This  result  may,  in 
a  measure,  be  obtained  by  putting 
a  boldly-projecting  hood  over  the 
opening;  and  an  instance  of  this 
method  is  illustrated  at  B.  The 
sketch  of  an  elevation  given  at  8 

C  may  serve  to  explain  a  variety  of 
porch  design  that  deserves  much  more 
attention  in  this  climate  and  country 
than  it  has  yet  received.  It  is  intend- 
ed to  be  constructed  of  timber,  framed 
and  braced,  and  may  be  either  put  to- 
gether in  a  rough,  rude  way,  and  cov- 
ered with  vines  and  creepers,  or  elab- 
orated with  any  amount  of  decoration 


84 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


that  may  be  considered  suitable.    It  should  project 
j,  eight  or  ten  feet  from  the 

building,  even  in  small  cot- 
tages, and  have  a  bold,  over- 
hanging roof.  This  style  of 
porch  almost  supplies  the 
place  of  a  veranda  on  the 
side  of  the  house  where  it 
occurs,  and  may  be  fitted 
with  glazed  frames  and  an 
outer  door  for  winter  use, 
if  preferred.  The  porch 
shown  at  D  is  also  of  wood, 
but  in  a  somewhat  different 
style.  In  this  case  it  is  proposed  to  supply  an  inclosed 
vestibule  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  but  the  outer  doors 
would  probably  be  unhinged  and  put  away  during  the 
summer  months.    Sometimes  a  veranda,  such  as  E, 


may  supply  the  place  of  a  porch,  and  serve  as  a  pro^ 
tection  to  the  front  entrance.  It  will  not  probably  be 
convenient  to  inclose  entirely  a  veranda-porch  at  any 
season  of  the  year,  but  the  open  end,  or  ends,  can  eas- 
ily be  shut  up  during  the  cold  months ;  and  if  this 
precaution  is  taken,  it  will  make  a  considerable  differ- 
ence in  the  value  of  the  shelter  afforded  in  stormy 
weather.    It  is  not  an  uncommon  practice  to  provide 


v 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


85 


a  little  plain  box-porch,  the  size  of  the  front  door,  for 
winter  use  under  verandas ;  but 
this  arrangement  is  sure  to  be  un- 
sightly, and  to  have  a  meagre,  in- 
complete look.  Where  a  veranda 
runs  the  whole  length  of  a  front, 
and  the  porch  occurs  in  connec- 
tion with  it,  it  may  with  propri- 
ety be  either  of  brick  or  stone.  F 
shows  a  simple  arrangement 
for  brick,  and  G  a  more  elab- 
orate study  for  stone  con- 
struction. Another  method 
is  to  inclose  a  projection, 
and  put  a  balcony  over  the 
entrance -arch.  This  plan, 
as  will  readily  be  seen,  ad- 
mits of  considerable  varie- 
ty of  design,  and  its  prin- 
ciple may  be  understood  by 

means  of  sketch  H.  The  most 
complete  arrangement  is  to  pro- 
ject the  porch  clear  of  the  build- 
ing,  and  arrange  a  carriage-way 
through  it.  But  this  plan  is 
scarcely  suitable  to  any  but  large, 
handsome  residences,  not  alone 
on  account  of  its  cost,  but  be- 
cause the  minimum  size  actually 
required  for  the  convenient  ad- 
mission of  a  carriage  is  not  like- 
ly to  be  in  good  proportion  with 
the  other  parts  of  a  villa  of 
comparatively  small  dimensions. 


86 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


An  example  of  a  porte  cochere  of  this  sort,  with  a  sin- 
gle arch  on  each  side,  is  shown 
at  I  ;  and  another,  with  three 
openings  in  front,  and  one  ellip- 
tical arch  at  the  side,  is  shown 
at  K. 

Porches  may  be  fitted  up  with 
permanent  or  movable  seats; 
but  these  should  be  of  wood  in 
preference  to  iron,  as  the  latter 
is  a  very  cold,  unyielding,  and  unsatisfactory  material 
for  such  a  purpose.    They  may  be  floored  with  wood, 
or  paved  with  stone  or  marble,  in  two  tints,  or  with  a 


simple  pattern  of  ornamental  tiles.  The  latter  are  not 
expensive,  and  have  as  cheerful  and  pleasant  an  ap- 
pearance as  any  thing  that  can  be  used;  but  they  need, 
in  laying,  much  more  care  than  is  usually  bestowed  by 
country  masons,  as  they  are  liable  to  get  loose  and 
crack  with  changes  of  temperature,  if  the  surface  is  at 
all  irregular  or  uneven.    The  pattern  should  be  very 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


87 


simple,  as,  otherwise,  an  expectation  of  richness  and 
elaboration  in  detail  may  be  raised  on  the  threshold, 
to  which  the  interior  of  the  house  may  fail  to  respond, 
and  a  disagreeable  inconsistency  will  thus  be  apparent, 
which  the  remembered  beauty  of  the  paving  will  in 
no  degree  help  to  reduce. 

Entrance-doors  may  be  divided 
into  three  principal  varieties :  the 
single  door,  shown  at  A,  which 
may  be  either  solid  or  glazed,  with 
an  iron  grating — the  double  door, 

B,  and  the  door  with  side-lights, 

C.  When  the  door  is  glazed  the  lights  may,  if  pre- 
ferred, be  hung  on  hinges  from  a  centre  rail,  so  as  to 
let  air  into  the  hall  without  opening  the  door.  The 
side-lights  should  always  be  hung  as  sashes.  In  some 
cases  a  sliding  or  folding  inner  solid  door  is  construct- 
ed for  protection,  but  the  iron  grat- 
ing answers  all  the  purpose,  and  the 
glass  may  be  ornamental,  so  as  to 
give  the  light  required  without  ex- 
posing any  view  into  the  hall  from 
the  porch ;  and  it  is  always  worth 
remembering  that  a  glazed  door  il- 
luminated from  the  inside  has  at  night  a  much  more 
agreeable  and  sociable  appearance  to  any  one  approach- 
ing than  a  solid  hall-door. 

The  porch  leads  into  the  principal  hall,  which  should 
connect  easily,  and,  to  some  extent,  symmetrically,  with 
the  rooms.  It  materially  lowers  the  character  of  a  hall, 
especially  of  a  large  one,  if  the  positions  of  the  various 
openings,  etc.,  are  unstudied  and  irregular;  two  doors, 
perhaps,  clustering  together  at  one  spot,  while  a  third 
lonely  one  is  penned  up  tight  in  a  corner,  with  insuf- 


88 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


ficient  room  for  the  casing  round  it.    The  result  in 

such  cases  is  an  appearance 
of  carelessness,  not  of  free- 
dom, in  design.  A  shows 
a  sketch  for  the  end  of  a 
hall  of  but  moderate  dimen- 
sions, in  which  are  many 
doors.  By  this  plan  two 
doors  are  grouped  togeth- 
A  er,  with  a  panel  and  solid 

bracketed  shelf  between  them,  thus  avoiding  the  mo- 
notonous effect  of  a  series  of  doors  of  the  same  height, 
the  sides  being 
treated  in  a  sim- 
ilar manner,  and 
filled  in  with  pic- 
tures in  the  pan- 
els. B  shows  the 
side  of  a  larger 
hall,  in  which  the 
blank  space  that 
would  otherwise  occur  between  the  two  doors  is  fitted 
with  an  arched  recess  and  seat  on  one  side,  and  with 
console-table,  looking-glass,  hat-pegs,  and  clock  on  the 
other.  C  illustrates  an  open  hall,  with  a  staircase  be- 
yond. In  this  plan  the 
upper  flight  of  the  prin- 
cipal stairs  is  supported 
on  the  arcade,  and  the 
two  halls  being  thus 
connected  together,  a 
light,  airy  effect  is  pro- 
duced, that  is  free  from 
any  practical  objection, 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


89 


if  a  servants'  staircase  is  also  provided  for  on  the  plan. 

D  illustrates  a  method 
of  getting  over  the  dif- 
ficulty of  an  opening  at 
the  extreme  end  of  the 
side  of  a  hall.  A  light 
screen  marks  the  passage- 
way, and  gives  regularity 
and  some  individuality  to 
the  design  without  mak- 
ing it  less  light  or  airy.  The 
plan  of  a  hall  in  which  this 
arrangement  is  introduced 
may  be  seen  on  the  princi- 
pal floor  of  Design  No.  12. 
E  is  a  similar  example,  but 
of  a  less  expensive  and  more 
open  character. 

From  the  hall  we  may 
proceed  to  the  library,  which  is  an  apartment  in  very 
general  demand  in  most  country  houses.  It  need  not 
be  of  large  dimensions  under  any  circumstances,  but 
should  be  so  arranged  that,  even  when  occupied  by 
only  one  or  two  persons,  it  may  have  a  cheerful,  do- 
mestic look.  It  may  be  adapted  to  its  special  pur- 
pose in  various  ways.  The  simplest  mode  is,  per- 
haps, to  recess  book-cases, 
as  shown  at  O,  on  each 
side  of  a  door,  fitting  each 
with  a  dwarf  closet  for 


papers  or  magazines, 


and 


these  recesses  should  be 
prepared  for  while  the 
house  is  being  constructed. 


90  VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 

P  shows  another  somewhat  similar  arrangement,  but 

with  glazed  doors  and 
without  the  dwarf  closets 
underneath.  In  a  library 
the  book-cases  fill  it  up 
considerably,  and  some- 
times a  door  of  commu- 
nication is  needed  where 
it  will  occupy  valuable 
space  and  be  unsightly. 
This  difficulty  may  be  overcome  by  having  one  of  the 
book-cases  hung  on  hinges,  and  made  to  answer  the 
purpose  of  a  door;  or  an  imitation  book-case,  with  book- 
backs  corresponding 
with  the  other  vol- 
umes, may  be  used. 
Q  illustrates  an  ex- 
ample that  has  been 
used  in  a  small,  sym- 
metrically-planned li- 
brary, the  only  visible 
approach  to  which  is 
from  the  principal  hall  by  sliding-doors ;  but  two  of 
the  book-cases  are  hung  and  fitted  with  an  inconspicu- 
ous catch,  so  as  to  swing  when  needed,  books  and  all, 
and  a  private  communication  is  thus  afforded  with  a 
boudoir  on  one  side,  and  with  the  staircase-hall  on 
the  other. 

In  a  really  large  library  the  books  should  occupy 
the  whole  wall  space,  except  a  range  of  wide,  inclosed 
shelves  all  round  for  unbound  books,  etc.  If  an  ex- 
tensive library  is  needed  to  a  house  of  but  moderate 
dimensions,  it  seems  desirable  to  divide  it  by  projec- 
tions into  compartments,  so  that  its  height  may  not 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


91 


appear  out  of  proportion  to  its  length  and  width. 
Such  an  arrangement  is 
shown  at  plan  R.  The 
library  proper  is  thus  di- 
vided, so  far  as  its  ap- 
pearance to  the  eye  is  con- 
cerned, into  four  separate 
parts;  but  it  is  neverthe- 
less, to  all  intents  and  pur-  ^"'"'''"'''P^mT^1  ! 
poses,  practically  one  large 

room.  Plan  S  shows  the  design 
of  the  ornamental,  ribbed  ceil- 


ing, which  is  so  arranged  that 
there  are  many  transverse  lines, 
and  but  few  in  the  direction  of 


IIIIIIIIIIUI 

nuiiiitiun 
llllllllllill 
uiuminui 

niinminin 

Hi 

the  length  of  the  room,  the  eye  being 
thus  drawn  to  the  separate  compart- 
ments as  much  as  possible.  T  shows 
an  elevation  of  the  end  of  this  room, 
which  has  lately  been  erected,  in  con- 
nection with  other  improvements,  for  Judge  Kent,  at 
Fishkill  Landing,  and  now  contains  his  valuable  library 

of  eleven  or  twelve  thou- 
M^.,  sand  volumes.  The  gen- 
eral appearance  of  the 
exterior  of  this  library, 
|  with  the  rooms  over  it, 
as  finished,  is  shown  at 
IT.* 

*  This  study  may  also  serve  as  a  further  illustration  of  the  remarks  made 
with  reference  to  alterations  and  additions  in  describing  Design  17.  The  house, 
as  purchased,  was  a  fairly-proportioned,  square  country  residence,  with  a  kitch- 
en wing  so  injudiciously  arranged  that  it  obscured  the  most  attractive  view 
from  the  windows  of  the  principal  rooms.  The  existing  wing  building  was, 
therefore,  taken  down  entirely,  and  the  new  library  was  designed  in  its  place, 


92 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


Front. 


V  illustrates  a  design,  made  for  my  own  use,  for  a 
small  book-case  that  can  be  screwed  to 
the  side  of  a  room.  The  doors  are 
glazed,  and  the  whole  affair  takes  up  but 
little  space,  and  is  suited  to  a  small  li- 
brary or  study,  as  it  allows  of  a  table  to 
be  set  against  the  wall  beneath  it.  Such 
a  book-case,  made  of  black  walnut  at  a  cost  of  $25, 
holds  about  eighty  or  ninety  ordinary 
volumes.  W  shows  a  sketch  of  a  some- 
what larger  movable  book-case,  planned 
by  Mr.  Withers,  for  a  recess  beside  his 
fire-place.  The  upper  central  space  is 
uninclosed,  and  filled  with  shelves  for 
the  reception  of  small  objects  of  inter- 
est. The  compartments  on  each  side 
are  glazed  for  books.  The  central  com- 
partment below  is  for  bound  volumes  of  journals. 
The  side  spaces  are  fitted  up  with  shelves  and  doors 
as  lock-up  closets  for  papers,  etc.  This  book-case  is 
made  of  oak,  with  the  introduction  of  black  walnut 

so  that  a  wide  veranda  now  commands  the  extensive  prospect  that  before  was 
lost,  and  the  kitchen  offices  were  rebuilt  to  the  north  of  the  library,  so  as  to 
shield  as  much  as  possible  this  unusually  large  room  from  the  winter  storm. 
The  staircase  was  planned  anew,  and  an  inclosed  veranda  (so  arranged  as  to 
protect  the  otherwise  exposed  northwest  corner  of  the  library  from  the  cold) 
supplied  large  pantries  and  other  useful  accessories  on  the  principal  floor.  In 
other  respects  the  old  house  was  left  intact,  except  that  a  bath-room  and  water- 
closet  were  provided  for  in  the  chamber  plan,  and  proper  provision  was  made 
for  warming  and  ventilating.  In  the  new  building  several  other  bedrooms  were 
provided  over  the  library,  and  the  house,  at  an  additional  cost  of  about  $11,000, 
was  made  as  complete  in  every  way  as  the  circumstances  of  the  case  admitted. 
The  result,  I  am  led  to  think,  was  satisfactory,  as  Judge  Kent,  in  a  note  of  the 
12th  January,  1855,  in  which  he  speaks  of  the  great  advantage  derived  by  his 
servants  in  extremely  cold  weather  from  boarding  up  temporarily  the  veranda 
to  the  north  of  the  kitchen  wing,  adds,  "  I  beg  to  say  that,  on  my  part,  I  am 
much  pleased  with  the  result  of  your  labors.  My  house  is  very  much  to  my 
taste.  The  exterior  is,  I  believe,  generally  admired,  and  the  interior  arrange- 
ments make  it  the  most  comfortable  house  I  ever  lived  in." 


/ 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


93 


for  the  mouldings,  and  cost  $55.  X  is  a  little  sketch 
for  a  hanging  book-shelf,  suited  to  a  bed- 
room or  small  study.  Such  designs,  how- 
ever, come,  perhaps,  more  under  the  head 
of  furniture  than  architectural  arrange- 
ment. 

In  the  dining-room  several  useful  feat- 
ures may  be  architecturally  managed.  The 
side-board,  for  example,  may  be  arranged 
in  a  recess,  as  shown 
at  A,  with  a  door  to 
a  private  closet  on 
one  side,  and  a  pan- 
try, or  service-room, 
on  the  other.  This 
idea  admits  of  num- 
berless modifications, 
and  has  always  a  rich 
effect  if  well  managed.  At  B  is  illustrated  the  end  of 
a  dining-room  opening  on  to  a  plant  cabinet,  or  small 

conservatory.  The 
glass  doors  of  com- 
munication are  fitted 
with  slightly  -  orna  - 
mented  glass,  so  as  to 
decrease  the  monot- 
ony of  effect  that 
would  otherwise  oc- 


i 

IMiln 

\mm  i 

■i 

cur,  while 


enough 


clear  glass  is  left  to 
give  a  good  view  of  the  flowers,  etc.,  when  the  sliding- 
doors  are  closed.  And  it  may  be  worth  while  to  re- 
mark here,  that  such  a  conservatory  should  be  ar- 
ranged for  the  display  of  flowers  rather  than  for  their 


94 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


cultivation,  which  may  be  more  conveniently  attended 

to  elsewhere.  C 
is  an  elevation  of 
the  side  of  a  din- 
ing-room designed 
and  executed  for 
Mr.  H.  W.  Sar- 
gent. The  three 
woods,  black  wal- 
nut, oak,  and  yel- 
low pine,  are  used 
in  combination,  and  the  result,  in  execution,  shows  how 
valuable  these  woods  are  for  internal  decoration  when 
used  in  their  pristine  simplicity  and  merely  oiled.  This 
effect  of  color,  which  is  a  principal  part  of  the  design, 
is  not,  of  course,  to  be  understood  from  the  annexed 
sketch,  which  is  a  mere  indication  of  the  general  idea. 
In  this  room  the  left  hand  panel  slides  up  easily,  and 
discloses  a  large  dumb  waiter,  or  lift,  communicating 
at  once  with  the  cooking  kitchen.  On  the  opposite 
corner  of  the  room  is  a  self-balanced  trap-door  in  the 
floor,  which  supplies,  by  an  easy  staircase,  the  only 
means  of  access  to  a  small,  private  brick  cellar,  prop- 
erly ventilated.  This  door  can  be  lifted  up,  by  a  lit- 
tle key  fitting  into  a  patent  lock,  at  any  time,  the  car- 
pet being  suitably  arranged,  and  the  cellar  is  conse- 
quently under  complete  and  convenient  control  by  the 
master  of  the  house  at  any  moment.  The  butler's 
pantry  is  close  to  the  dining-room,  but  a  passage  in- 
tervenes, which  connects  with  a  lavatory  and  water- 
closet,  and  also  with  a  garden  and  conservatory  en- 
trance. These  latter  are  all  close  to  the  dining-room, 
without  connecting  directly  with  it.  The  wall  panels 
are  filled  in  with  a  richly-embroidered  material,  and 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


95 


the  ceiling  is  paneled  in  plaster,  and  tinted,  to  har- 
monize with  the  rest  of  the  design.  Permanent  side- 
boards, introducing  the  three  woods,  and  suitable  in 
style  to  the  room,  are  put  up  ;  and  the  chimney-piece 
has  also  been  specially  designed  for  this  apartment. 
It  is  illustrated  as  a  vignette  to  Design  No.  19. 

The  pleasant  and  harmonious  result  that  may  always 
be  obtained  by  a  judicious  treatment  of  unpainted  ma- 
terials in  the  interior  of  a  house  is  well  deserving  of 
consideration.  Ceilings  and  floors  may  be  decorated  in 
this  manner  as  well  as  side-walls  ;  and  D  may  serve  as 


D 


a  hint  for  a  simple  floor  in  two  tints,  adapted  to  an 
entrance-hall  or  small  study. 

The  drawing-room^  or  best  parlor,  next  suggests  it- 
self to  our  notice.  This  room,  although  intended  to 
be  a  strong  point  in  every  American  house,  is  often 
made  its  least  satisfactory  feature.  I  have  noticed 
one  style,  for  example,  which,  in  all  probability,  most 
of  my  readers  have  also  seen.  The  walls  are  hard-fin- 
ished white,  the  wood-work  is  white,  and  a  white  mar- 
ble mantle-piece  is  fitted  over  a  fire-place  which  is  never 
used,  as  there  is  a  stove  in  the  room  or  a  furnace  in 
the  house.  The  floor  is  covered  with  a  carpet  of  ex- 
cellent quality,  and  of  a  large  and  decidedly  sprawling 
pattern,  made  up  of  scrolls  and  flowers  in  gay  and 
vivid  colors.    A  round  table  with  a  cloth  on  it,  and  a 


96 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


thin  layer  of  books,  in  smart  bindings,  occupies  the 
centre  of  the  room,  and  furnishes  about  accommoda- 
tion enough  for  one  rather  small  person  to  sit  and 
write  a  note  at.  A  gilt  mirror  finds  a  place  between 
the  windows.  A  sofa,  by  courtesy  so  called,  occupies 
irrevocably  a  well-defined  space  against  the  wall,  but 
it  is  just  too  short  to  lie  down  on,  and  too  high  and 
slippery,  with  its  spring,  convex  seat,  to  sit  on  with 
any  comfort.  It  is  also  cleverly  managed  that  points 
or  knobs  (of  course  ornamental  and  French  polished) 
shall  occur  at  all  those  places  toward  which  a  weary 
head  would  naturally  tend,  if  leaning  back  to  snatch 
a  few  moments'  repose  from  fatigue.  The  sofa  is,  in- 
deed, the  "representative"  man  of  the  room,  and  con- 
centrates in  itself  the  whole  spirit  of  discomfort  that 
reigns  unmolested  in  every  square  foot  of  the  apart- 
ment. There  is,  also,  a  row  of  black  walnut  chairs, 
with  horse-hair  seats,  all  ranged  against  the  white 
wall.  A  console  table,  too,  under  the  mirror,  if  I  re- 
member rightly,  with  a  white  marble  top  and  thin  gilt 
brackets.  I  think  there  is  a  piano.  There  is,  cer- 
tainly, a  triangular  stand  for  knicknacks,  china,  etc., 
and  this,  with  some  chimney  ornaments,  completes  the 
furniture,  which  is  all  arranged  according  to  stiff,  im- 
mutable law.  The  windows  and  Venetian  blinds  are 
tightly  closed,  the  door  is  tightly  shut,  and  the  best 
room,  that  I  am  now  thinking  of,  is,  in  consequence, 
always  ready  for — what?  for  daily  use?  Oh,  no;  it  is 
in  every  way  too  good  for  that.  For  weekly  use?  No, 
not  even  for  that — but  for  company  use ;  and  thus  the 
choice  room,  with  the  pretty  view,  is  sacrificed,  to  keep 
up  a  conventional  show  of  finery  that  pleases  no  one, 
and  is  a  great,  though  unacknowledged,  bore  to  the 
proprietors.    Such  is  one  style  of  best  parlor  to  be 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


97 


found  in  America  ;  and  though  it  is  by  no  means  uni- 
versal, it  is  far  too  general  for  comfort.  A  drawing- 
room  like  this  becomes  a  sort  of  quarantine  in  which 
to  put  each  plague  of  a  visitor  that  calls ;  and  one  al- 
most expects  to  see  the  lady  of  the  house  walk  in  with 
a  bottle  of  camphor  in  her  hand,  to  prevent  infection, 
she  seems  to  have  such  a  fear  that  any  one  should  step 
within  the  bounds  of  her  real  every-day  home  life. 
All  this  is  absurd.  No  room  in  any  house,  except, 
perhaps,  in  a  very  large  mansion,  ought  to  be  set 
apart  for  company  use  only.  If  a  reception-room  for 
strangers  is  needed,  it  should  be  a  small,  unpretending 
room,  certainly  not  the  most  agreeably  situated  apart- 
ment in  the  house,  which  should  be  enjoyed  daily,  for 
it  is  not  the  having  any  good  thing,  but  the  using  it, 
that  gives  it  its  value.  A  friend  of  mine,  when  mak- 
ing arrangements  to  rent  a  small  suburban  house,  hap- 
pened to  remark  that  he  should  occupy  the  back  par- 
lor as  a  dining-room,  and  the  landlady  seemed  really 
quite  overwhelmed  with  the  idea,  which  she  evidently 
thought  an  unwarrantable  innovation.  "  All  the  best 
families,"  she  said,  u lived  in  the  basement.  Why  use 
such  a  beautiful  parlor  merely  for  an  eating  room?"  as 
if  eating  was  a  degrading  occupation.  Let  us  return, 
however,  to  our  drawing-room.  A  best  parlor  ought 
to  express,  in  its  proportions,  colors,  and  arrangement 
of  furniture,  an  agreeable,  hearty,  social  welcome.  The 
lady  who  studied  her  room  when  her  guests  had  de- 
parted, after  a  lengthened  and  agreeable  visit,  so  as  to 
learn  how  the  furniture  had  accommodated  itself,  as  it 
were,  to  suit  the  social  convenience  of  her  friends,  and 
who  then  modified  her  previous  ideas  accordingly,  had 
the  true  artistic  eye  for  beauty  of  arrangement,  and 
certainly  deserved  to  have  a  pleasant  circle  of  acquaint- 


98 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


ance.  There  are  but  few  strictly  architectural  features 
in  a  drawing-room  that  call 
for  illustration.  Good  pro- 
portions can  be  supplied ; 
but  the  lady  of  the  house  is 
the  most  important  archi- 
tect here.  A  bay-window 
is  a  very  desirable  addition 
to  such  a  room,  as  it  breaks 
up  the  monotony  of  outline,  and  gives  a  more  free  and 

open  effect.  Studies  for  inte- 
rior arches  to  such  windows 
are  shown  at  A,  B,  C,  and  D. 

As  we  have  now  passed 
through  the  principal  rooms, 
we  may  proceed  to  take  a 
glance  at  the  chamber  plan. 
The  staircase  is  a  very  char- 
acteristic feature  in  a  house,  and  a  convenient  adapta- 
tion of  the  height  of  risers, 
breadth  of  treads,  height  of 
railings,  plan  of  landings, 
and  finish  of  newel  posts, 
adds  more  than  would,  at 
first  sight,  be  supposed,  to 
the  general  comfort  of  the 
house  ;  for  this  part  of  the 

^  design  is  common  to  all  of 
the  residents,  and  is,  more- 
over, sure  to  be  in  constant 
use.  A  simple  and  econom- 
ical arrangement  is  to  have 
a  plain  turned  newel  post 
and  turned  baluster.  This 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


99 


plan  also  admits  of  much,  ornamentation,  and  an  en- 
riched specimen  is  shown  at  L.    M  illustrates  an  oc- 


tagonal newel  post.  N  shows  a  staircase  of  higher 
character  for  a  large  hall,  with  continuous  string  and 
newel  post  at  each  landing ;  and  such  a  staircase  has 
a  fine  effect  when  well  constructed  of  hard  wood,  par- 
ticularly if  it  is  fitted  with  a  skirting,  or  dado,  and 
half  hand-rail  against  the  wall,  following  the  rise  of 
the  stairs  on  the  same  line  as  the 
main  hand-rail.  O  shows  a  design 
of  still  higher  pretension,  in  which 
the  balusters  are  dispensed  with, 
and  the  space  filled  with  open  tra- 
cery. In  this  idea  of  a  design  all 
the  forms  are  made  to  adapt  them- 
selves to  the  general  upward  line 
of  the  staircase,  and  a  more  easy  and  graceful  effect 
can  be  arrived  at  in  this  way  than  in  any  other.  It 
involves,  however,  like  most  superior  arrangements,  an 
increase  in  cost,  and  can,  therefore,  only  be  adopted 
occasionally  in  large  houses. 

On  arriving  at  the  chamber  floor  we  naturally  ex- 
pect to  find  a  bath-room  and  ivater-closet.  Some  per- 
sons have  a  prejudice  against  planning  these  two  con- 
veniences in  the  same  apartment;  but  my  own  expe- 
rience is  in  favor  of  placing  them  together  in  a  house 


100 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


of  moderate  size,  as  the  advantages  of  saving  of  space, 
free  ventilation,  and  plenty  of  room  to  move  about  in, 
more  than  compensate,  in  practice,  for  the  slight  in- 
convenience that  must  certainly  occur  now  and  then, 
if  both  bath  and  closet  happen  to  be  required  for  use 
by  different  members  of  the  family  at  the  same  time. 
It  may  be  well  here  to  advise  any  one  who  fits  up  a 
water-closet  inside  a  house,  to  ventilate  the  basin  with 
a  half-inch  pipe  carried  behind  the  furring  into  a  flue, 
as  well  as  to  ventilate  the  room  by  a  register  near  the 
ceiling.  A  house-maid's  sink  saves  a  good  deal  of 
trouble  if  properly  managed ;  but  it  should  not  be  in 
the  bath-room,  but  near  the  attic  stairs,  or  wherever 
it  can  be  most  privately  located,  so  as  to  be  well  light- 
ed and  available  for  constant  use.  A  speaking-tube, 
with  whistle  attached,  should  be  fitted  to  connect  this 
floor  with  the  kitchen  department ;  and  a  dust-shaft, 
if  well  placed  and  judiciously  planned,  is  a  labor-sav- 
ing addition  to  the  accessories,  as  is  also  a  lift  for  coal- 
hods,  or  to  send  down  clothes  for  the  wash,  if  it  can 
be  cleverly  managed  so  as  not  to  waste  valuable  space. 
A  linen-press  is  a  universal  requirement ;  but,  with 
the  exception  of  a  roomy  closet  for  towels,  etc.,  this 
convenience,  in  a  moderately-sized  house,  may  just  as 
well  be  provided  for  in  the  attic,  where  there  is  likely 
to  be  more  room  to  spare.  Any  superior  room  or 
press  for  woolens  or  linens  should  be  supplied  with 
cedar  shelves. 

We  have  now  fairly  arrived  at  the  bedrooms.  A 
bedroom  for  a  lady's  use,  to  be  complete,  should  have 
two  windows  on  one  side,  so  that  a  looking-glass  and 
dressing-table  may  be  placed  between  the  two  lights, 
and,  if  possible,  a  window  on  one  of  the  other  sides, 
so  as  to  obtain  a  thorough  draught  through  the  room 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


101 


whenever  it  may  be  required, 
have  a  ventilator  in  it,  and 


one  or  two  closets.     These  6 


Each  bedroom  should 


may 


be  arranged  in  connec- 


tion with  the  windows  on  the 
sides  or  ends  of  the  room,  if  | 
preferred,  so  as  to  improve  the 
appearance  of  the  apartment,  and  give  a  recessed  bay 
and  seat.  Q  and  R  show  two  studies  for  this  sort  of 
arrangement,  which,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  designs  to 
be  hereafter  described,  I  take  every  fair  opportunity 
of  introducing. 


Attic  bedrooms  may  be  so  planned  as  to  afford  a 
valuable  addition  to  the  accommodation  of  a  country 
house.  A  more  extended  view  is  generally  to  be  ob- 
tained from  these  rooms  than  from  the  rest  of  the 
house,  and  as  they  may  be  made  quite  as  comfortable, 
though  not,  of  course,  so  symmetrical,  as  the  second 
floor  chambers,  they  deserve  a  fair  share  of  considera- 
tion ;  and  the  economical  advantages  they  offer  have 
frequently  led  me,  in  practice,  to  advise  the  use  of  a 
high-pitched  roof,  with  a  flat  on  the  top.  The  acute 
angle  of  the  roof  precludes  the  possibility  of  any  large 
surface  being  exposed  to  the  vertical  rays  of  the  sun, 
and  the  flat  on  the  top,  being  furred  down  some  three 
or  four  feet,  supplies  an  air-chamber  above  the  attic 


102 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


c. 

88888888888^8 


ceiling  that  acts  as  a  satisfactory  shield  from  the  heat. 

This  space  can  be  floored  and  fitted  with 
a  staircase,  and  used  as  a  lumber  garret, 
if  thought  worth  while.  This  plan  of  ar- 
ranging the  roofs,  so  as  to  increase  the 
value  of  the  attic  rooms  without  loss  of 
exterior  effect,  has  been  so  generally  ap- 
proved, that  I  can,  with  confidence,  rec- 
ommend it  to  the  examination 
of  all  who  intend  to  build  coun- 
try houses  of  moderate  size.  The 
flat  is  not  noticeable  from  below, 
as  the  ridge  lines  alone  are  ap- 
parent ;  and  many  to  whom  I 
have  explained  the  principle  of 
arrangement  by  an  actual  visit  to  executed  houses, 
have  expressed  their  surprise  at  finding  a  large,  near- 
ly level  space,  on  the  top  of  a  house  that  showed  no 
sign  of  any  thing  of  the  sort  to  a  passer-by.  Some 
further  remarks  are  made  on  this  subject  in  describing 
Design  No.  7.  Studies  for  arranging  attic  windows 
and  closets  are  shown  at  G  and  H. 

The  roofs  and  gables  of  a  country  house  may  be  de- 
signed in  many  different  ways,  and  some  of  their  prin- 
cipal varieties  may  be  seen  on  reference  to  the  accom- 


panying little  sketches.  Fig.  1  is  a  high-pitched  gable, 
with  verge-board.  Fig.  2  shows  a  similar  gable  hipped 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES.  103 


back,  which  entirely  alters  its  character.  The  eaves 
may  be  curved,  as  here  shown,  if  preferred.    Fig.  3 


shows  a  gable  of  flatter  pitch,  with  cantilevers.  Fig.  4, 
a  corresponding  gable,  with  pendant  finish.    Fig.  5,  a 


curved  gable,  with  pendant  finish.  Fig.  6,  a  roof  with 
a  single  convex  curve.    Fig.  7,  a  concave  curve.  Fig. 


8,  an  ogee  curve;  and  Fig.  9  another  form  of  ogee 
curve.  Each  of  these  forms  is  available  in  one  situa- 
tion or  another,  and  I  believe  all  are  introduced  in  the 
accompanying  designs. 

Dormer-windows  are  of  several  sorts,  according  to 
the  style  of  the  house;  They  are  often  made  too 
small,  and  considerable  comfort  and  effect  is  thereby 
lost,  for  a  small  one  costs  very  nearly  as  much  as  a 
large  one,  and  is  not  half  so  available.  A  dormer 
is  a  capital  feature  in  a  country  house,  and  never  need 


104  VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


be  ashamed  of  itself,  or  try  to  shrink  out  of  sight. 


ABC 

A  shows  a  study  for  a  single  large  window.  B, 
another  one,  hipped  back,  with  curved  eaves.  C,  a 
study  for  a  dormer  with  double  win- 
dow; and  D  a  picturesque  arrange- 
ment for  bringing  a  dormer  forward, 
and  making  it  a  more  important  part 
of  the  design.  The  perspective  effect 
of  this  latter  arrangement  may  be  seen 
in  Designs  No.  4  and  31.  A  dormer 
in  a  different  style  is  shown  as  a  vig- 
d  nette  to  Design  No.  22. 

Verge-boards  and  finials  admit  of  endless  variety  of 
design,  and  some  studies  for  these  details  are  shown  at 
E  and  F,  and  in  the  vignette  to  Design  No.  21. 


Rain-water  pipes,  as  generally  planned,  are  most 
unsightly  accessories  to  a  country  house.    They  need 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


105 


never  be  so.  On  the  contrary,  they  may  often  be  made 
valuable  helps  in  design,  as  they  can  be  used  to  mark 
a  vertical  line  in  the  composition  where  there  is  no 
projection  in  the  plan.  Instead  of  being  circular, 
as  generally  made,  they  should  be  semi-circular,  so 
that  they  may  rest  flat  against  the  wall  surface ;  and 
they  should  also  be  fitted  with  heads,  and  the  pipe 
that  conveys  the  water  from  the  roof  should  be  car- 
ried into  them  with  a  curved  line  from  the  level  of 
the  gutter,  instead  of  being  cut  through  the  cornice  in 
the  common,  slovenly,  broken-backed  way  that  disfig- 
ures nineteen  out  of  twenty  country  houses  in  Amer- 


ica. G  and  H  are  illustrations  showing  the  foot  of 
verge-board  and  construction  of  gutter  in  a  roof  with 
curved  eaves.  The  mode  of  continuing  the  gutter  to 
the  rain-water  head  applies  also  to  any  roof  in  which 
the  gutter  is  cut  out  of  the  rafters.  Some  designs  for 
heads  are  shown  at  I  and  K. 

Chimneys  are  the  very  first 
things  that  catch  the  eye, 
and  the  last  to  escape  from 
observation.  They  should, 
therefore,  be  well  studied, 
and  have  a  substantial,  hos- 
pitable look.  All  clay  pots, 
pretty  or  ugly,  should  be 


106 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


faithfully  eschewed,  for  they  are  the  most  mean,  shab- 
by, dwarfish  features  that  can  be  added  to  a  house.  A 
plain  brick  shaft,  without  any  relief  whatever,  is  to  be 
preferred  to  the  most  fanciful  pot  that  money  can  pur- 
chase. But  there  is  no  need  to  make  the  brick  chim- 
ney so  very  plain ;  the  flues  may  be  grouped  together 
in  many  different  ways,  and  set-offs  may  easily  be  made 
in  the  brick-work.  A  shows  a  stack  of  six  flues,  sim- 
ply finished  with  a  blue  stone 
on  the  top.  Chimneys  should 
always  seem  to  stride  the  ridge, 
and  never  appear  to  sit  on  it 
side-saddle  fashion,  for  a  very 
disagreeable  monotony  of  line 
will  be  the  result  if  this  point 
is  not  attended  to.  Where  a 
case  of  this  sort  occurs,  it  is 
best  to  work  out  to  a  square  or  cross  before  leaving 
the  roof,  such  as  B.  A  plan  is  shown  as  a  vignette 
to  Design  24,  in  which,  as  there  are  many  flues  intro- 
duced, the  ventilating  openings  are  arranged  at  a  low- 
er level,  to  reduce  the  heaviness  of  effect  that  would 
otherwise  ensue.  A  stone 
and  brick  chimney-stack  is 
shown  at  C,  and  an  elabo- 
rate stone  shaft  at  D.  As 
a  general  rule,  it  is  prefer- 
able to  plan  the  interior  of 
a  house  so  that  the  chim- 
neys may  start  from  the 
ridge,  as  it  saves  heat  and 
prevents  any  chance  of  the  chimneys  smoking.  But 
circumstances  alter  cases,  and  it  is  now  and  then  al- 
most necessary  to  plan  them  in  the  outer  walls.  A 


Plan 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


107 


few  specimens  of  this  style  of  chimney  may  be  seen  in 
the  perspective  views  hereafter  submitted,  such  as  in 
Designs  No:  3  and  37. 

Ventilators  are  often  useful  both  for  convenience 
and  artistic  effect.    Numbers  1,  2,  3,  and  4  show  some 


of  their  varieties  of  design  that  have  occurred  to  me 
in  practice.  They  can  conceal  an  Emerson's  venti- 
lator, if  preferred ;  but  if  the  air-pipes  are  brought  to- 
gether at  this  point  near  the  ridge  of  the  roof,  the 
simple  outlet  will,  in  most  situations,  be  found  suffi- 
cient. They  need  to  be  planned  with  a  proper  escape 
for  the  water  that  will  find  its  way  into  them  in  rainy 
weather,  or  the  practical  result  will  be  unsatisfactory. 

Hoods  to  windows  in  American  country  houses  are 
features  that  seem  to  spring  naturally  from  the  pecul- 
iarities of  the  climate,  and  the  needs  they  give  rise  to. 
The  upper  sashes  of  windows  with  hoods  can  always 
be  left  a  little  open  without  any  chance  of  the  rain 
beating  in ;  and  even  when  of  small  size  they  protect 
the  glass  from  the  direct  vertical  rays  of  the  summer 
sun,  and  receive  the  first  blows  from  the  winter  storm. 
They  also  add  much  to  the  artistic  effect  of  a  rural 
building,  and  deserve,  I  think,  a  more  full  apprecia- 


108 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


tion  of  their  merits  than  has  hitherto  been  accorded 

them.  A  few  examples 
are  shown  at  A  and  B, 
and  as  vignettes  to  De- 
sign No.  30.  It  is  to  be 
observed  that,  in  summer, 
a  small  window  is  in  one 
respect  most  comfortable,  as  a  wall  is  a  better  pro- 
tection from  heat  than  glass  or  Venetian  blinds,  and 
most  of  the  Italian  and  Eastern  villas  are  planned 
with  small  openings.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  large 
windows  are  desirable  to  throw  open  for  the  summer 
eveniMg  breeze,  and  to  let  in  plenty  of  cheerful  light 
during  dull  winter  and  spring  days.  The  hood,  in  a 
measure,  connects  these  two  opposite  needs.  A  ve- 
randa all  round  a  house  is  delightful  for  a  month  or 
two  in  the  heat  of  summer;  but  most  healthily-con- 
stituted persons  like  to  have  the  opportunity  to  admit 
a  stream  of  glorious,  warm,  genial  sunlight  into  their 
rooms  whenever  they  feel  inclined  to  enjoy  it,  and  this 
can  not  be  obtained  if  the  veranda  entirely  encircles 
the  living  apartments.  The  hood,  on  the  other  hand, 
defends  the  window  from  the  powerful  rays  of  the 
mid-day  sun  without  shutting  it  out  entirely. 

The  balcony  is  a  feature  that  can  now  and  then  be 
introduced  to  advantage ;  and  a  specimen  that  tells 
the  whole  story,  and  scarcely  needs  any  further  de- 
tail, is  shown  in  the  illustration  to  Design  No.  24. 

The  bay-windoiv  is  the  peculiar  feature  next  to  the 
veranda  that  an  American  rural  home  loves  to  indulge 
in.  There  can,  indeed,  scarcely  be  too  many  for  the 
comfort  of  the  house,  or  too  few  for  the  comfort  of 
the  purse,  for  I  regret  to  add  that  they  are  expensive 
features.    The  simplest  form  is  a  plain  semi-octagon, 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


109 


with  simple  shed-roof,  shown  at  L.    This  sort  of  bay 
is  very  commonly  finished  with  a  roof 
running  up  to  a  point  against  the  wall ; 
but  the  effect  thus  produced  is  always  \ 
mean  and  disagreeable,  and  a  straight  J 
line  for  some  distance,  as  shown  on  the  r 
sketch,  gives  the  appearance  of  the  win-  Jl 
dows  belonging  to  the  house  much  more 

than  the  other  mode.  M  shows  a  plain 
bay  with  a  balcony  over,  so  that  the  oc- 
cupant of  the  room  above  may  be  able 
to  step  out  and  see  the  view,  or  attend 
to  a  few  choice  plants.  The  square  bay 
shown  at  N  gives  much  more  additional 
room  than  the  octagon,  and  if  connected 
with  a  continuous  balcony  and  arch  beneath,  as  there 
shown,  has  a  handsome  architectural  effect;  but  the 


other  form  is  generally  to  be  preferred.  Circular  bays 
are  effective,  but  more  expensive  than  any  others.  In 
the  design  of  a  bay-window  a  great  deal  will  always 
depend  on  the  arrangements  made  for  the  shutters  or 
blinds.  A  want  of  forethought  often  leads  to  the  al- 
lotment of  so  scanty  a  space  for  the  piers  at  the  an- 
gles, that  the  shutters  are  found  to  be  in  the  way,  ex- 
cept when  closed,  which  is,  of  course,  annoying.  A 


110  VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 

large  bay  window,  with  smaller  bay  above,  is  shown 
at  O ;  and  P  shows  a  bay  with  a  covered  balcony  over 


PINKNEVSr.  J> 


it ;  and  the  effect  of  this  combination,  which  admits 
of  much  variety  of  design,  is,  in  execution,  very  airy 
and  elegant,  if  properly  designed  and  solidly  con- 
structed. 

Recessed  arches  and  arcades  will  always  produce  a 
capital  contrast  of  light  and  shade  if  introduced  with 
any  judgment,  and  deserve,  I  think,  more  attention 
than  they  seem  to  receive.  They  differ  materially, 
both  in  accommodation  and  artistic  effect,  from  ve- 
randas. The  arcade  being  inclosed  on  three  sides, 
affords  much  more  shelter  from  the  weather,  throws 
a  deeper  shadow,  and  is  more  secluded  from  observa- 
tion ;  while  the  piazza,  which  is  always  exposed  on 
two  sides,  and  generally  on  three,  is  more  open  to 
the  cool  breezes  in  hot  weather.  Arcades  should, 
therefore,  be  introduced  in  connection  with,  and  not 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


Ill 


instead  of  verandas.  R  and  S  show  two  varieties, 
which,  however,  can 
scarcely  be  judged  of 
in  mere  outline.  De- 
sign No.  35  may  serve 
to  give  the  perspec- 
tive idea  more  justly. 


luinnuniuir^uiuMiiVru 


These  sketches  show  merely  the  geometrical  design. 
It  is  a  good  plan  so  to  arrange  an  arcade  that  it  may 
be  inclosed  during  the  winter  with  glazed  frames. 
This  will  make  the  house  very  much  warmer  during 
the  cold  months,  and  will  help  materially  to  protect 
the  work  from  decay. 

The  veranda  is  perhaps  the  most  specially  Ameri- 
can feature  in  a  country  house,  and  nothing  can  com- 
pensate for  its  absence.  It  may  be 
constructed  of  lattice  in  the  common 
way,  or  with  a  little  more  elabora- 
tion, as  shown  at  A.  A  handsome 
veranda  may  always  be  made  by  using 
posts  seven  or  eight  inches  in  diame- 
ter, and  fitting  between  them  brack- 


112 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


ets,  or  arches ;  and  specimens  of  this  style  are  shown 
at  B  and  C.    Another  example,  somewhat  more  elab- 


^gMaaBQaaanHac 


orate,  is  shown  at  D.  The  veranda  may,  if  preferred, 
be  of  more  solid  construction,  an  instance  of  which  is 
sketched  at  E.  An  agreeable  effect  can  be  produced 
by  turning  the  columns  of  some  suit-  i 
able  pattern,  and  perhaps  enriching 
them  with  a  little  carving.  A  very 
simple  study  for  a  veranda  of  this 
sort,  lately  designed  for  execution,  is 
drawn  at  F.  Wooden  balustrades  are 
of  several  sorts,  as  may  be  seen  on  the 
drawings  of  verandas  just  described. 
They  may  be  constructed  with  turned 
balusters,  or  composed  of  a  flat  surface,  pierced  with 
a  pattern.  A  third  method  that  may  be  adopted  is 
somewhat  of  a  combination  of  the  other  two.  Its  ef- 
fect is  produced  by  using  flat  balusters, 


as  shown  on  parapet  to  C.  Another 
p?  sort  is  shown  on  the  parapet  to  porch 
G,  described  already  a  few  pages  back, 
and  endless  opportunities  for  variety  in 
design  occur  in  treating  this  part  of  a 
country  house. 

Windoivs  are  either  single,  double, 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


113 


or  single  with  side-lights.  They  may  be  fitted  with 
outside  shutter-blinds,  which  is  the  plan  commonly 
adopted,  as  the  cheapest  and  least  liable  to  get  out  of 
order ;  or  with  inside  Venetian  blinds,  or  inside  shut- 
ters, partly  solid  and  partly  filled  in  with  slats,  which 
is  a  very  good  way,  or  with  altogether  solid  shutters. 
Inside  shutters  may  be  arranged  either  to  slide  or  to 
shut  up  in  boxes,  as  may  be  thought  most  expedient. 
French  casements  are  troublesome  if  they  have  to 
open  outward,  and  inconvenient,  as  far  as  curtains 
are  concerned,  if  they  open  inward;  but  they  have  a 
pleasant  effect  in  warm  weather.  In  a  room  eleven 
feet  high  and  over,  almost  the  same  advantage  may 
be  gained  by  sliding  the  lower  sash  up  to  the  meeting 
rail,  and  inclosing  it  with  a  rough  box  and  follower 
above,  for  the  available  height  for  exit  will  be  five 
feet  ten  inches.  The  most  perfect,  and,  of  course,  the 
most  expensive  arrangement,  is  to  prepare  a  case  in 
the  wall  sufficiently  large  to  contain  the  sash,  the  Ve- 
netian blind,  and  the  solid  shutter,  and  then  to  slide 
each  of  these  into  this  recess.  All  such  work  requires, 
however,  to  be  very  nicely  fitted,  and  the  blinds  must 
be  so  planned  that  the  slats  will  never  be  in  the  way. 
But  these  are  matters  of  construction  that  it  is  scarce- 
ly worth  while  to  go  into  very  minutely  here. 

A  few  sketches  of  tin  ventilators  for  bedrooms  are 
drawn  at  M,  N,  O,  and  P.    These  are  one  tenth  the 


price  of  registers,  answer  all  the  purpose  (for  a  venti- 
lator should  never  be  closed),  and  look  as  well. 

H 


114 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


R  S 

Some  studies  for  ornamental  plaster  ceilings,  that 
may  be  carried  into  execution  by 
clever  mechanics  without  much 
trouble  or  expense,  are  added  at 
R,  S,  and  T,  and  with  these  I  con- 
clude the  illustrations  and  explan- 
atory remarks  that  belong  to  this 
section  of  the  work. 

A  point  that  requires  much  attention  in  the  study 
of  details  is,  to  make  the  ornament  secondary  to  the 
construction,  and  not  the  construction  secondary  to  the 
ornament  This  is  the  fatal  rock  on  which  so  many 
a  good  conception  for  a  house  has  been  split.  An 
inexperienced  man,  for  example,  may  conclude  to 
have  an  ornamental  plaster-ceiling  in  his  parlor,  and 
in  his  desire  to  have  it  good  of  its  sort,  he  may  so 
load  it  down  with  decoration  that  it  will  be  much 
more  disagreeable  to  look  at  than  the  plain  ceiling 
was  before  it  was  touched.  And  so  it  is  throughout 
the  whole  subject  of  domestic  architecture:  it  is  al- 
ways as  easy  to  spoil  a  house  by  overdoing  it  as  by  un- 
derdoing it 


Having  thus  taken  a  passing  glance  at  the  most 
prominent  points  of  detail  that  are  likely  to  occur  in 
the  building  of  a  country  house,  we  may  proceed  to 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


115 


explain  the  various  designs.  But  before  doing  so  it  is 
proper  to  remark,  as  so  many  different  circumstances 
are  likely  to  affect  the  arrangement  of  actual  designs 
for  country  houses,  that  it  would  be  useless  for  any 
architect  to  publish  plans  with  the  idea  that  they 
could  be  completely  followed  on  any  other  site  than 
the  one  for  which  they  are.  specially  designed.  But 
this  is  not  the  object  proposed  to  be  gained.  The 
principles  they  involve,  and  the  individual  peculiar- 
ities they  possess  can  be  combined,  modified,  and  im- 
proved in  many  different  ways.  They  are  to  be  con- 
sidered merely  as  hints  or  suggestions. 

The  vignette  at  page  25  illustrates  a  design  for  a 
village  school-house,  of  which  the  plan  is  here  sub- 
mitted. It  is  not  requisite  that  it 
should  be  of  any  particular  dimen- 
sions, provided  that  the  proportion 
shown  between  the  different  parts 
is  duly  observed.  The  outline  of 
its  plan  is  a  simple  parallelogram 
covered  by  one  roof.  The  accommodation  embraces  a 
veranda  porch,  a  lobby  for  hats  and  coats,  a  school- 
room, a  recitation-room,  a  necessary,  a  loft  overhead 
for  storage  of  benches,  etc.,  and  a  partially-excavated 
basement  for  a  stove  or  furnace.  A  ventilator  is  pro- 
posed to  be  constructed  on  the  ridge  of  the  roof  com- 
municating with  the  school-room.  The  recitation-room 
would  be  ventilated  by  a  spare  flue  alongside  of  the 
furnace  smoke-flue.  Such  a  building  ought  to  be  con- 
structed of  brick  or  rough  stone,  for  it  seems  a  pity  to 
erect  a  school-house  of  wood,  particularly  in  a  coun- 
try where  whittling  is  almost  an  institution.  Still, 
the  design  could  be  easily  constructed  of  wood  if  it 
were  thought  advisable.    A  school-house  of  this  sort 


116 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


could  be  erected  for  from  $500  upward,  according  to 
size  and  finish  required. 

The  vignette  that  closes  this  chapter  shows  a  gener- 
al view  of  a  study  made  for  the  Associate  Reformed 
Church  proposed  to  be  erected  in  Newburgh.  This 
design  is  adapted  for  execution  in  brick  and  dressed 
brown  stone,  or  the  wall  surface  may  be  built  with 
small,  neatly-pointed,  rough  stones,  and  the  window- 
dressings,  angles,  etc.,  may  be  of  hard  Jersey  stone, 
fairly  worked.  The  spire  is  proposed  to  be  construct- 
ed of  wood,  above  the  octagonal  portion  of  the  tower. 
A  more  varied  outline  is  thus  obtainable ;  and  as  the 
main  building  is  to  have  a  roof  and  external  cornice 
of  wood,  a  similar  principle  of  construction  is  thus 
carried  out  in  the  tower  also.  In  the  interior,  which 
is  designed  without  columns  or  galleries,  a  collar-beam 
roof  is  proposed  to  span  the  whole  width  of  the  build- 
ing, and  to  show  its  construction  in  the  arrangement 
of  the  panels  of  the  plaster  ceiling,  each  principal  raft- 
er being  stiffened  by  a  semicircular  moulded  arch 
springing  on  each  side  from  a  projecting  stone  corbel, 
prepared  to  receive  it  when  carrying  up  the  walls, 
which  are  intended  to  be  strengthened  at  these  points 
by  buttresses,  as  shown  on  the  sketch. 

The  want  of  taste  that  has  been  exhibited  in  the 
majority  of  designs  for  country  churches  in  America 
has  had  a  very  prejudicial  effect  on  the  general  ap- 
pearance of  villages  and  provincial  towns  ;  and  many 
years  must  elapse,  even  under  the  most  favorable  cir- 
cumstances, before  a  material  change  for  the  better 
can  take  place,  for  these  structures  are,  in  most  cases, 
strongly  built,  and  have  cost  much  money.  A  wood- 
en caricature  of  a  Grecian  temple  has  been  the  most 
popular  form  adopted,  and  this  is  repeated  in  a  thou- 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


117 


sand  meaningless,  ugly  ways  all  over  the  country. 
Here  and  there  some  slight  appreciation  of  the  beau- 
ty and  appropriateness  of  the  spire  has  been  shown, 
but  the  examples  are  few  and  far  between,  and,  when 
they  do  occur,  are  generally  painted  a  glaring  white 
from  roof  to  base-board.  It  is  the  soaring,  heaven- 
ward-pointing spire,  bold  in  outline  and  quiet  in  col- 
or, that  is  the  true  architectural  type  of  the  spiritual 
Christian  worship.  This  is  the  feature  that  should  be- 
long specially  to  the  religious  edifice,  and  thereby  dis- 
tinguish it  at  once  from  the  secular  buildings  in  its 
neighborhood.  Its  value  and  beauty,  in  connection 
with  natural  landscape,  is,  perhaps,  unexplainable ; 
but  it  is  none  the  less  real  because  we  may  be  unable 
to  trace  in  words  the  delicate  process  by  which  the 
mind  perceives  the  propriety  of  its  expression. 

Since  the  first  edition  of  this  volume  was  prepared 
for  jmblication,  at  Newburgh,  on  the  Hudson,  a  church 
of  considerable  size,  and  with  a  lofty  spire,  has  been 
built  on  one  of  the  principal  streets  from  the  designs 
of  my  friend  Mr.  F.  C.  Withers  ;  the  whole  exterior  of 
the  church,  including  the  spire,  is  built  of  stone,  and 
the  general  effect  is  shown  in  the  vignette  introduced 
at  the  end  of  the  Table  of  Contents  of  the  present  edi- 
tion. The  body  of  the  work  is  constructed  of  a  gray- 
ish Milestone,  the  dressings  and  the  spire  are  of  a  light 
olive  freestone,  and  the  roof  is  covered  with  two  tints 
of  slate ;  the  color  is  thus  diversified,  although  the  con- 
trasts are  not  so  marked  as  to  interfere  with  the  gen- 
eral impression,  which  should  always  depend  more  on 
picturesqueness  of  line,  and  depth  of  light  and  shade, 
than  on  variety  of  local  color  in  the  materials  used. 

The  question  of  an  alteration  in  the  appearance  of 
country  churches  generally,  is  one  in  which  we  are  all 


118  VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 

personally  interested,  exclusive  of  sect  or  denomina- 
tion ;  for  we  are  compelled  to  look  at  their  out  sides, 
although  we  are  perfectly  free  to  attend  or  stay  away 
from  the  services  that  are  held  within  them.  And  it 
is  to  be  earnestly  desired  that  the  improving  taste  for 
good  proportion  and  color  that  is  perceptible  in  Amer- 
ican villa  and  cottage  architecture  may  soon  reach  this 
subject  of  country  churches  in  the  rural  districts ;  for 
the  building  which  we  set  apart  for  the  service  of  re- 
ligion, and  in  which  we  dedicate  our  best  hours  to  the 
praise  and  worship  of  the  good  God  who  has  created 
and  preserved  us,  should  surely  be  the  purest,  the  no- 
blest, and  the  best  architectural  work  our  minds  can 
conceive  and  our  hands  execute. 


.0 


"VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


121 


DESIGN  No.  1. 

(V.  &  W.) 

A  SIMPLE  SUBURBAN  COTTAGE. 

No.  1  illustrates  a  design  for  a  simple  rectangular 
cottage  intended  to  be  built  on  a  twenty-five  feet  lot 
by  Mr.  Ryan,  plumber,  of  Newburgh.  This  house  is 
proposed  to  be  constructed  of  wood  filled  in  with 
brick,  and  to  cost  about  $1500  or  $1600,  according  to 
the  amount  of  interior  finish  that  may  be  decided  on. 
It  will  be  perceived  by  the  plan  that  the  house  is  ap- 
proached by  a  veranda-porch,  the  principal  floor  being 
occupied  by  an  airy  parlor  fitted  with  recessed  book- 
cases in  the  walls  on  the  side  of  the  fire-place ;  a 
small  living  or  dining  room,  and  a  kitchen  communi- 
cating with  a  back  porch,  in  which  is  a  sink.  The 
chimney-stack  being  designed  in  the  centre  of  the 
building,  all  the  heat  from  the  fire-places  will  be  saved 
to  the  house  in  winter.  By  this  arrangement  that  ob- 
jectionable feature  of  any  plan  for  a  house — a  base- 
ment dining-room — is  avoided,  and  the  lowest  floor  is 
used  for  cellarage  only,  and  not  finished  off.  It,  would 
probably  be  convenient  in  the  summer,  however,  to 
use  a  portion  as  a  wash-room,  and  if  so,  a  stove  could 
easily  be  fitted  up  temporarily  for  the  purpose.  The 
chamber  plan  shows  three  bedrooms  and  a  large  linen- 
closet  with  a  window  in  it.  This,  if  preferred,  could 
be  used  as  a  bath-room  or  a  child's  bedroom,  and  then 
it  would  probably  be  desirable  to  connect  it  by  a  door 
with  the  principal  bedroom.  The  gable  introduced  at 
the  side  is  for  the  specific  purpose  of  getting  a  proper 
headway  to  the  attic  staircase. 


122 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


It  is  not  proposed,  at  present,  to  finish  off  the  attic 
chambers;  but  the  roof  is  of  such  a  pitch  that  two 
light,  airy  bedrooms  could  at  any  time  be  obtained  at 
a  little  additional  cost,  and  without  occupying  the 
whole  of  the  garret  space.  The  house,  having  a  twen- 
ty feet  front,  allows  of  two  feet  for  projection  of  roof 
on  one  side  of  the  lot,  and  of  a  three  feet  passage-way 
on  the  other.  Another  side-entrance  at  the  head  of 
the  cellar  stairs  could  be  arranged,  if  thought  worth 
while,  for  this  three  feet  passage-way,  but  it  is  not  in 
the  present  instance  thought  necessary.  In  fitting  up 
the  parlor  of  such  a  cottage  as  this>  good  taste  would 
seem  to  indicate  that  the  carpet  should  be  of  small 
pattern,  and  rather  quiet  in  color,  so  as  to  give  an  air 
of  repose  to  the  whole  room.  The  wood-work  might 
be  either  stained  and  varnished,  or  painted  in  light, 
cheerful  tints.  The  walls  should  be  covered  with  a 
pretty,  fanciful  paper,  harmonizing  with  the  wood- 
work, and  not  large  in  pattern,  or  it  would  appear  to 
decrease  the  size  of  the  apartment.  The  mantle-piece 
may  be  of  wood,  of  some  simple,  tasteful  design,  corre- 
sponding with  the  rest  of  the  room,  and  yet  look  far 
better  than  a  cold,  costly  white  marble  affair,  that  will 
run  away  with  much  money  to  no  purpose.  The  cen- 
tre-table should  be  a  sensible,  substantial  piece  of  fur- 
niture, at  which  three  or  four  people  will  be  able  to 
sit  and  read  comfortably.  A  well-made  chintz-covered 
lounge,  although  a  much  more  economical,  and  a  far 
more  comfortable  piece  of  furniture  than  a  modern 
rose-wood  sofa,  will  be  found  to  have  an  equally  agree- 
able effect  in  the  room.  Two  or  three  tables  of  fanci- 
ful design  and  trifling  expense,  that  can  be  moved 
wherever  they  may  be  wanted  at  a  moment's  notice, 
will  give  life  and  animation  to  such  a  parlor ;  and  an 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


123 


easy-chair  or  two  for  tired  visitors,  besides  the  regu- 
lar half  dozen,  will  be  found  very  acceptable.  Some 
pretty,  simple  engravings  on  the  wall  in  neat  frames, 
and  an  oil-painting  or  two,  can  be  obtained  at  a  very 
moderate  cost.    Pretty  casts  for  the  mantle-piece,  or 
to  be  placed  on  brackets  here  and  there  on  the  walls, 
may  be  obtained  for  a  mere  trifle.    I  purchased  one, 
for  example,  the  other  day,  in  New  York,  for  twenty- 
five  cents,  full  of  grace,  beauty,  and  artistic  thought. 
A  bird-cage,  or  a  basin  of  gold-fish,  or  a  hanging-bask- 
et for  flowers,  if  there  are  any  young  girls  in  the  fam- 
ily, will  also  help  to  give  an  air  of  vitality  to  the  whole 
room,  which  should  be  the  central  point  of  attraction 
for  all  the  inmates.    It  is  possible,  however,  if  we  lay 
much  stress  on  these  minor  accessories,  that  some  Mr. 
Blank  may  say,  1 1  This  will  never  do.    We  can't  have 
our  girls  fussing  around  with  flowers,  and  birds,  and 
gold-fish.  They  have  their  duties  to  perform,  and  their 
studies  to  attend  to."    We  will,  therefore,  stop  here, 
merely  venturing  to  remark,  with  all  due  deference, 
that  although  duties  must,  of  course,  be  performed, 
yet  innocent  pleasures  ought  also  to  be  encouraged, 
and  that  no  study  will  insure  so  rich  a  reward  to  all 
concerned  as  the  study  of  simple,  quiet,  domestic  grace 
and  elegance. 


The  vignette  is  intended  to  show  a  simple  method 
of  obtaining,  in  a  new  clearing,  a  comparatively  com- 
fortable and  somewhat  homelike  family  residence  with- 
out much  trouble  or  expense.  This  design  does  not 
illustrate  a  log-cabin,  or  single  room,  in  which  a  fam- 
ily of  men,  women,  and  children  eat,  drink,  sleep,  wash, 


124 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


dress,  and  undress  all  together.  It  is  a  plan  for  a 
very  simple  house  for  a  well-to-do  settler  and  his  fam- 
ily. The  principal  apartment,  16x20,  is  proposed  to 
communicate  at  once  with  the  open  air  through  a  door 
under  a  veranda-porch  in  the  summer,  and  to  be  ap- 
proached through  a  small  wash-room  at  the  side  in 
the  winter,  the  veranda  being  then  used  for  storing  a 
supply  of  wood  under  cover.  In  the  wash-room  is  a 
flight  of  ladder  steps  leading  to  the  loft.  The  family- 
room  has  two  windows  in  it,  and  is  connected  with 
two  small  bedrooms  and  a  store-room,  each  supplied 
with  one  window.  The  house  is  intended  to  be  con- 
structed in  the  ordinary  manner  with  rough  logs ;  but 
as  much  neatness  as  is  compatible  with  proper  econ- 
omy is  supposed  to  be  exercised  in  the  selection  of  the 
material  and  in  the  execution  of  the  work.  It  is  the 
common  practice  to  cut  down  all  the  trees  near  the 
site  of  a  log-cabin ;  but  this  custom  is  far  more  hon- 
ored in  the  breach  than  in  the  observance,  and  a  little 
judicious  forethought  will  certainly  preserve  a  few  fine 
specimens  round  the  family  home  for  shade  and  enjoy- 
ment. This  study  has  been  made  on  a  small,  simple 
scale,  so  as  to  be  more  generally  available,  but  the 
mode  of  construction  proposed  to  be  adopted  admits 
of  considerable  artistic  treatment  in  a  rural  way ;  and 
if  a  log-house  were  required  on  a  mare  extensive  plan 
altogether,  the  style  might  be  raised  in  character  ac- 
cordingly, without  sacrificing  in  any  way  its  primitive 
expression.  Log-houses  are  frequently  occupied,  for 
years  together,  by  well-educated,  active,  energetic  men, 
who  are  the  pioneers  of  civilization  in  the  thinly-in- 
habited districts  in  which  they  take  up  their  abode ; 
and  much  good  would  result  if  such  men  would  set 
the  example  of  devoting  some  thought  to  the  beauty, 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


125 


as  well  as  to  the  utility  of  the  homes  they  erect  for 
themselves  and  their  families. 

We  are  all  aware  that  a  decided  distinction  is  com- 
monly drawn  between  the  two  words  I  have  just  used, 
viz.,  beauty  and  utility;  and  yet  every  useful  object 
should  be  beautiful,  and  every  beautiful  object  must 
be  useful,  or  its  alleged  beauty  is  hollow  and  unreal. 
The  misconception  arises  from  the  shallow  material 
tests  with  which  we  are  apt  to  content  ourselves.  A 
glorious  sunset,  for  example,  has  nothing  whatever  to 
do  with  eating,  drinking,  sleeping,  or  locomotion,  and 
it  may,  therefore,  be  said  by  some  to  be  an  entirely 
useless  affair;  but  the  fact  is,  that,  if  we  are  wise 
enough  to  appreciate  it,  the  beautiful  sunset  is  of 
great  use  to  our  higher,  although  it  is  of  no  use  to 
our  lower  capacities  of  conception.  A  horse  may  be 
made  to  lead  a  life  of  hard  work,  and  may  enjoy  his 
warm  coat,  his  victuals  and  drink,  and  his  sound 
sleep,  as  well  as  a  irfan ;  and  a  human  being  who  de- 
votes his  life  solely  to  obtaining  these  acknowledged 
necessaries  of  his  existence,  will  never  be  any  thing 
better  than  a  rather  superior  specimen  of  a  beast  of 
burden.  But  no  beast  of  burden  has  yet  evinced  any 
special  partiality  for  sunsets,  or  has  shown  any  natu- 
ral craving  for  beauty  for  its  own  sake.  Here,  in 
fact,  we  arrive  at  one  of  the  main  characteristics  that 
especially  distinguishes  the  man  from  the  brute.  Up 
to  this  point,  all  the  enjoyments  his  five  senses  are  ca- 
pable of  he  shares  with  the  inferior  animals.  But  the 
capacity  to  see  and  fully  appreciate  the  beautiful,  and 
to  discover  the  charm  and  wonderful  excellence  of 
loveliness,  is  restricted  to  the  human  race.  Man  alone, 
of  all  living  beings  on  the  earth,  has  been  made  in  the 
image  of  his  Maker,  and  man  alone  can  experience  the 


126 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


delightful  sensation  of  sympathy  with  the  divine  attri- 
butes of  grace  and  beauty.  How  debasing,  then,  must 
be  that  leveling,  rational,  utilitarian  spirit,  that  seeks 
to  cut  out  from  the  desires  and  aims  of  men  all  that 
is  useful  to  them  as  beings  who  are  pronounced  by 
their  Creator  only  a  little  lower  than  the  angels,  while 
it  insists  on  an  almost  sleepless  attention  to  those  ma- 
terial cravings  that  are  useful  to  them,  simply  because 
they  are  active,  energetic  animals.  All  this  eating, 
drinking,  sleeping,  and  working  for  means  of  subsist- 
ence is  not  "life,"  although  it  is  a  needful  prepara- 
tory step  to  it,  and  may  be  made  an  enjoyable  part 
of  it.  It  is  to  life  what  the  foundation  is  to  the  build- 
ing: it  may  be  excellent  in  itself,  and  deserves,  un- 
doubtedly, the  most  careful  attention,  because  a  flaw 
in  this  part  is  fatal  to  all  that  may  be  done  afterward. 
But  what  opinion  should  we  form  of  that  man  who 
spent  all  his  time  and  money  in  building  foundations? 
The  true  way  to  live,  says  the  prudent  economist,  is 
to  pay  as  we  go :  and  this  rule  is  of  thousand-fold  ap- 
plication. If  we  wish  to  realize  our  existence,  we 
must  pay  as  we  go,  not  only  our  debts  to  the  body, 
but  what  we  owe  to  our  higher,  purer,  better,  and 
more  ideal  nature,  or  we  accumulate  a  heavy  debt  that 
drags  us  down  in  after  life.  Some  people  form  a  no- 
tion that  they  can  devote  five,  ten,  fifteen,  or  twenty 
years  to  the  accumulation  of  means  to  purchase  enjoy- 
ment, and  can  then  sit  down  comfortably  and  enjoy  it. 
But  the  order  of  nature  is  entirely  averse  to  any  such 
investment  of  time.  She  permits  nothing  of  the  sort. 
Pay  as  you  go,  says  Nature ;  clear  up  accounts  every 
day  with  your  good  genius,  and  cheerfully  subscribe 
something  to  your  ideal  life,  to  your  taste  for  the 
beautiful,  to  your  domestic  happiness,  or,  when  the 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


127 


ten  years  are  passed,  you  may  find  yourself  with  a 
large  account  at  the  bank,  but  with  very  little  capac- 
ity to  enjoy  any  thing  that  your  money  can  purchase. 
And  it  is  not  for  ourselves  alone,  but  for  the  sake  of 
our  children,  that  we  should  love  to  build  our  homes, 
whether  they  be  villas,  cottages,  or  log-houses,  beauti- 
fully and  well.  Men  and  women  can  go  abroad  and 
take  their  pleasure  elsewhere.  They  can  gratify  their 
desire  for  variety  and  excitement  in  a  hundred  differ- 
ent ways  ;  but  the  young  people  are  mostly  at  home  ; 
it  is  their  storehouse  for  amusement,  their  opportu- 
nity for  relaxation,  their  main  resource ;  and  thus  they 
are  exposed  to  its  influence  for  good  or  evil  unceasing- 
ly; their  pliable,  susceptible  minds  take  in  its  whole 
expression  with  the  fullest  possible  force,  and  with 
unerring  accuracy.  They  soon  learn  thoroughly  to 
enjoy  every  possibility  of  enjoyment  it  possesses,  and 
their  unspoiled  instincts  for  the  good  and  true  are 
perpetually  seeking  in  it  for  a  gratification  of  their 
nascent  perceptions  of  the  beautiful.  It  is  only  by 
degrees  that  the  young,  hungry  soul,  born  and  bred 
in  a  hard,  unlovely  home,  accepts  the  coarse  fate  to 
which,  not  the  poverty,  but  the  indifference  of  its  pa- 
rents condemns  it.  It  is  many,  many  years  before  the 
irrepressible  longing  becomes  utterly  hopeless ;  per- 
haps it  is  never  crushed  out  entirely ;  but  it  is  so  stu- 
pefied by  slow  degrees  into  despairing  stagnation,  if  a 
perpetually  recurring  blank  surround  it,  that  it  often 
seems  to  die,  and  to  make  no  sign ;  the  meagre,  joy- 
less, torpid  home  atmosphere  in  which  it  is  forced  to 
vegetate  absolutely  starves  it  out ;  and  thus  the  good 
intention  that  the  all-wise  Creator  had  in  view,  when 
instilling  a  desire  for  the  beautiful  into  the  life  of  the 
infant,  is  painfully  frustrated.    It  is  frequently  from 


128 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


this  cause,  and  from  this  alone,  that  an  impulsive, 
high-spirited,  light-hearted  boy  will  dwindle  by  de- 
grees into  a  sharp,  shrewd,  narrow-minded,  and  self- 
ish youth;  from  thence  again  into  a  prudent,  hard, 
and  horny  manhood,  and  at  last  into  a  covetous,  un- 
loving, and  unloved  old  age.  The  single  explanation 
is  all  sufficient :  he  never  had  a  pleasant  home. 


DESIGN  FOR  A  LOG-HOUSE. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


131 


DESIGN  No.  2. 

A  SMALL  RURAL  DOUBLE  COTTAGE. 

No.  2  is  a  design  for  a  cottage  for  two  small  fam- 
ilies. Under  the  farmer's  living-room  is  a  basement- 
kitchen,  with  the  windows  considerably  out  of  ground, 
and  under  the  coachmans  kitchen  is  a  cellar :  the  en- 
trances are,  as  will  be  perceived,  quite  distinct.  Up 
stairs  the  farmer  has  three  bedrooms ;  the  coachman 
but  one,  according  to  instructions.  Such  a  cottage 
would  cost  about  $1800,  neatly  finished. 

Such  a  plan  would  not  be  unsuitable  for  a  lodge, 
in  which  the  families  of  a  gardener  and  gate-keeper 
could  live,  or  it  might  be  fitted  up  a  little  more  com- 
pletely, and  offer  convenient  accommodation  to  two 
friends  who  felt  inclined  to  build  it  on  some  agreea- 
ble rural  lot  for  a  few  months'  quiet  residence  in  the 
summer. 

It  seems  strange  that  this  idea  should  not  be  more 
frequently  acted  on  than  is  the  case  at  present.  Far 
away  from  the  fashionable  watering-places,  but  easily 
accessible  from  the  cities — in  the  heart  of  Vermont, 
for  instance — may  be  found  bold,  beautiful  scenery, 
pure  air,  and  a  pleasant  neighborhood.  Land  is 
cheap,  timber  cheap,  living  cheap,  and  all  of  the  best. 
These  are  the  spots  that  should  attract  the  attention 
of  heads  of  families  who  wish  to  give  their  young 
people  the  benefit  of  country  life  in  the  summer.  A 
long  trip  of  three  months  may,  in  this  way,  be  taken 
at  a  less  cost  than  will  be  incurred  for  a  brief,  glitter- 
ing three  weeks  at  Saratoga  or  Newport,  and  with 


132 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


real,  instead  of  nominal,  advantage  to  the  health  of 
the  juniors  who  join  in  it. 

This  cottage  is  proposed  to  be  constructed  of  wood, 
filled  in  with  brick,  and  covered  with  clap-boards.  The 
upper  view  shows  a  rear  addition  to  the  coachman's 
part  of  the  house,  which  is  not  indicated  on  the  plan, 
and  which  might  be  included  in  the  design,  if  thought 
worth  while,  although  the  house  is  complete  without 
it.  The  verge-boards  and  porch  are  proposed  to  be 
slightly  ornamented,  and  a  hooded  door,  adapted  to 
the  arrangement  shown  on  the  ground  plan,  is  illus- 
trated in  the  vignette  below. 


DESIGN  FOE  A  HOODED  DOOE. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


135 


DESIGN  No.  3. 

A  SUBURBAN  COTTAGE. 

This  design  for  a  suburban  cottage  on  a  small  scale 
was  prepared  for  a  situation  on  a  street  lot,  in  which 
the  house  would  have  been  generally  seen  among 
trees,  and  in  connection  with  the  other  houses  adjoin- 
ing. The  proportions  were,  therefore,  made  some- 
what higher  than  would  have  been  thought  desirable 
if  the  site  had  been  larger  and  more  open.  This 
point  of  relative  proportion  is  worth  much  consider- 
ation in  suburban  houses,  for  it  may  easily  happen 
that  a  particular  design  shall  have  a  decidedly  dwarf- 
ish appearance  if  built  in  one  situation,  a  high,  stilted 
effect  in  another,  and  be  quite  satisfactory  in  a  third — 
the  result  on  the  eye  being  dependent  as  much  on  the 
objects  immediately  surrounding  the  house  as  on  the 
house  itself.    The  force  of  this  remark  may  be  tested 


convincingly  in  any  large  city  by  an  examination  of 
the  architecture  of  its  shops  and  warehouses.  It  fre- 
quently happens  that  a  block  of  stores,  which  for  years 


136 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


has  presented  a  tall,  massive,  dignified  appearance,  sud- 
denly shrinks  into  stunted,  second-rate  insignificance, 
simply  because  other  buildings  two  or  three  stories 
higher  are  erected  on  each  side  of  it. 

In  accordance  with  instructions  the  dining-room  was 
planned  in  the  basement.  It  connects  with  the  kitch- 
en through  a  pantry  that  is  arranged  under  a  balcony 
on  the  principal  floor,  and  is  supplied  with  a  large 
china-closet.  A  sink-room  is  attached  to  the  kitchen, 
and  the  remainder  of  the  basement  is  occupied  with 
cellars  and  store-room. 

The  principal  floor  shows  a  veranda-porch  commu- 
nicating with  a  hall,  in  which  is  a  cloak-closet  and 
door  to  back  veranda.  The  stairs  are  in  a  side  hall, 
in  which  is  an  entrance  to  a  bedroom  of  moderate 
size ;  and  a  parlor,  connected  with  a  general  living- 
room,  and  opening  on  to  a  balcony,  completes  the  ac- 
commodation on  this  floor.  The  chamber  plan  shows 
three  bedrooms  fitted  up  with  closets,  etc.,  and  a  lin- 
en-press in  the  hall.  If  preferred,  the  other  end  of 
the  open  hall  could  be  inclosed  and  fitted  up  as  a 
bath-room,  for  there  would  still  be  sufficient  light  for 
the  hall  and  staircase.  The  attic  provides  two  bed- 
rooms and  store-closet,  and  an  open  garret.  The  rain- 
water cistern,  it  will  be  observed,  is  so  placed  that  it 
may  be  sunk  in  the  upper  part  of  the  linen-press,  which 
is  not  available  for  its  special  purpose  more  than  six  or 
seven  feet  high.  By  this  means  the  water  is  received 
from  the  eaves,  and  pumping  from  below  is  saved. 

In  this  plan,  as  it  interfered  with  convenience  to 
arrange  the  chimneys  in  the  body  of  the  house,  they 
are  placed  in  the  outside  walls,  and  are  intended  to 
improve  the  appearance  of  the  design,  although  per- 
fectly simple  in  execution.    The  chimney  is  a  most 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


137 


expressive  feature,  and  deserves  to  be  brought  prom- 
inently into  notice  in  domestic  architecture.  As  a 
general  rule,  it  is  desirable  in  this  climate  to  build 
the  chimneys  in  the  body  of  the  house,  and  not  in  the 
outside  walls.  But  exceptions  often  occur  in  large 
houses,  and  sometimes  in  small  ones,  where  the  gain 
in  so  doing  is  greater  than  the  loss,  and  in  such  cases 
the  opportunity  to  give  a  definite  character  to  the 
chimney-stacks  should  be  taken  advantage  of.  This 
design  has  not  been  executed.  It  was  estimated  by 
Newburgh  mechanics  at  over  $4000,  in  1852 ;  but  as 
it  is  not  nearly  so  large  a  house  as  Design  No.  7, 
which  was  built,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  proprietor, 
for  $4200,  complete,  about  twenty  miles  from  the  site 
on  which  this  design  was  proposed  to  be  erected,  it  is 
presumed  that,  under  favorable  circumstances,  the  es- 
timate would  be  within  that  amount.  It  was  proposed 
to  be  built  of  brick,  furred  off  on  the  inside,  and  paint- 
ed a  soft  cream  color  externally,  the  verandas  and 
trimmings  being  finished  a  rich  brown. 

In  arranging  the  tints  for  the  exterior  of  a  coun- 
try house  it  is  better  to  make  them  a  little  warmer 
than  will  be  entirely  satisfactory  at  first,  because  the 
pigments  must  certainly  fade  more  or  less  in  a  few 
months,  and  the  permanent  effect  is  what  should  be 
most  thought  of  at  starting. 


The  vignette  shows  a  design  for  partially  inclosing 
a  veranda  which  was  made  for  J.  J.  Monell,  Esq. 
The  country  house  to  which  it  belongs  is  planned  on 
a  side-hill  overlooking  a  picturesque  glen;  and  the 
kitchen  in  the  basement  being,  in  consequence,  entire- 


138 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


ly  out  of  ground  in  the  rear  facing  the  garden,  these 
offices  were  somewhat  too  freely  exposed  to  view  from 
the  ornamental  grounds  in  the  vicinity  of  the  house. 
The  simple  plan  here  sketched  was  therefore  made  and 
carried  out ;  and  as  the  vines,  already  grown  over  the 
old  supporting-posts,  were  trained  to  the  new  trellis- 
work,  and  showed  to  even  better  advantage  than  be- 
fore, no  harm  was  done  in  this  respect,  while  a  great- 
er degree  of  privacy  was  certainly  arrived  at  with  but 
little  sacrifice  of  light.  The  sketch  is  introduced  as 
similar  cases  often  occur,  and  a  little  ingenuity  can 
readily  arrange  new  varieties  of  pattern  to  embody 
the  same  general  idea. 


DESIGN  FOE  PAKTIAXLY  INCLOSED  YEEANDA. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


141 


DESIGN  No.  4. 

RURAL  COTTAGE. 

This  design,  erected  by  Dr.  de  la  Montagnie,  of 
Fishkill  Landing,  is  situated  amidst  quiet,  agreeable 
home  scenery,  and  commands  several  beautiful  views, 
both  of  the  Hudson  and  of  the  noble  hills  that  rise 
up  at  this  point  from  its  eastern  shore.  The  approach 
road  near  it  is  picturesquely  wooded  on  both  sides,  so 
as  to  seem  more  like  a  wide  lane  than  a  common  high- 
road ;  and  all  the  circumstances  suggested  an  unpre- 
tending, but  really  rural  house. 

As  the  accommodation  required  was  not  extensive, 
there  was  no  necessity  for  attic  bedrooms,  and  the  cot- 
tage is,  therefore,  planned  a  story  and  a  half  high,  as 
it  is  called,  the  roof  coming  down  a  foot  or  two  below 
the  ceiling  line,  not,  however,  so  as  to  interfere  with 
the  occupation  of  the  rooms  in  any  way.  Although, 
by  this  arrangement,  the  ceilings  of  the  bedrooms  are 
less  elegant  than  they  would  be  if  finished  off  square, 
as  usual,  there  is  one  decided  advantage  attending  it, 


which  was  fairly  illustrated  in  the  case  under  consid- 
eration. The  ground  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
building  site  was,  as  is  often  the  case,  somewhat  bare 


142 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


of  trees,  and  the  proprietor,  with  great  care  and  pains, 
moved  a  number  of  healthy  specimens,  of  larger  size 
than  usual,  from  the  neighboring  woods.  Fortunate- 
ly these  have  thriven  well  for  the  most  part,  and  the 
consequence  is,  that  although  they  are  small,  and  have 
had  only  a  year  or  two's  growth  in  their  present  situ- 
ation, they  have  quite  an  important  effect  in  connec- 
tion with  the  house,  because  it  is  kept  loiv,  and  with 
overhanging  eaves  that  still  further  take  away  the  ef- 
fect of  height. 

This  design  was  built  in  a  hollow,  but  the  earth 
taken  out  for  foundations  was  so  arranged  that  the 
house,  as  now  finished,  stands  on  a  gentle  eminence, 
and  the  natural  impression  of  a  stranger  to  the  facts 
would  be  that  Nature  kindly  provided  a  little  bluff 
for  the  specific  purpose  of  building  the  doctor's  cot- 
tage on.  The  general  effect  was  materially  assisted 
by  sodding  the  surface  in  the  vicinity  of  the  house,  in- 
stead of  trusting  to  grass  seed.  This  process  is,  of 
course,  the  more  expensive  of  the  two,  but  if  well 
done,  it  yields,  what  is  really  of  importance  in  a  new 
house,  an  immediate  reward. 

The  entrance  is  through  a  wooden  porch,  that  serves 
for  a  veranda  on  that  side.  The  hall  is  of  liberal  size, 
and  is  almost  as  useful  as  another  room,  having  a  win- 
dow in  it  commanding  a  pretty  view. 

The  parlor  and  dining-room  communicate  with  the 
veranda.  A  roomy  pantry  and  lock-up  closet  are  pro- 
vided in  connection  with  the  dining-room,  and  a  lobby 
is  shut  off  at  the  head  of  the  basement  stairs :  in  this 
is  a  wash-stand,  etc.  Up  stairs  are  four  bedrooms. 
There  is  a  large  garret  of  good  height  overhead.  The 
kitchen  accommodation,  etc.,  is  in  the  basement. 

In  the  arrangement  of  the  chamber  plan  it  will  be 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


143 


seen  that  a  projecting  dormer-window  is  introduced  in 
the  upper  hall  at  the  head  of  the  stairs.  This  sup- 
plies a  pleasant  recess  for  a  chair  and  table  at  a  win- 
dow that  looks  out  on  a  cheerful  view ;  and  as  it 
stands  out  from  the  main  hall  some  little  distance, 
being  supported  on  heavy  brackets,  as  may  be  seen 
on  the  upper  illustration,  it  casts  a  deep  shadow,  even 
when  the  sun  is  high,  and  gives  some  additional  indi- 
viduality to  the  design. 

The  house  is  constructed  of  wood,  filled  in  with 
brick,  and  the  carpenter's  and  mason's  contracts  were 
taken  at  $2900 ;  the  architect's  commission  for  draw- 
ings and  details,  without  superintendence,  being  3 £ 
per  cent,  on  that  amount,  viz.,  $101  50. 

One  advantage  that  is  offered  by  wooden  construc- 
tion is,  that  picturesque  breaks  in  the  plan  may  be 
made  for  less  money  than  they  will  cost  in  brick- 
work, because  it  requires  considerable  time  and  care 
to  make  a  brick  corner  plumb  and  true,  while  a  wood- 
en angle  can  be  easily  worked. 

The  exterior  is  painted  in  quiet,  neutral  tints,  the 
main  body  of  the  work  being  of  a  rather  warm  gray, 
while  the  corner-boards,  verge-boards,  window-dress- 
ings, veranda,  and  porch  are  also  of  a  grayish  tint, 
but  considerably  darker  than  the  other,  and  with  some 
brown  added  to  it  for  the  sake  of  contrast.  The  stiles 
of  the  Venetian  blinds  are  rather  lighter  than  the  win- 
dow-dressings, while  the  slats  and  the  panels  of  the 
verge-boards  are  of  a  cool  dark  brown.  The  chimney 
is  painted  in  two  tints,  to  correspond;  and  as  the 
house  is  covered  with  shingles,  which  soon  become 
soft  and  pleasant  to  the  eye,  the  whole  effect  is  free 
from  either  startling  contrast  or  wearisome  monotony. 

In  painting  a  country  house  the  aim  should  be  to 


144 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


give  it  a  cool  effect  in  summer,  and  a  warm  effect  in 
winter ;  and  this  is  not  so  difficult  as  might  at  first 
be  supposed,  because  all  combinations  of  colors  are 
mutually  dependent  on  each  other,  and  the  marked 
contrast  in  the  appearance  of  the  surface  of  the  soil, 
the  trees,  and  the  sky,  at  different  periods  of  the  year, 
gives  an  opportunity,  when  choosing  the  tints  for  a 
house,  to  select  a  happy  medium  that  shall  be  suited 
to  more  seasons  than  one. 


The  vignette  shows  a  sketch  for  a  rustic  outbuilding 
proposed  to  be  constructed  with  a  rough  frame  covered 
with  bark,  and  with  a  shingle  roof. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


147 


DESIGN  No.  5. 

(V.  &  W.) 

SUBURBAN  HOUSE. 

This  is  a  design  for  a  suburban  residence  for  Rev. 
E.  J.  O'Beilly,  of  Newburgh.  It  seeks  to  supply  the 
accommodation  of  an  ordinary  three-story  brick  house 
in  a  form  that  shall  have  a  less  high-shouldered  and 
stilted  appearance  than  usually  distinguishes  buildings 
of  this  class. 

In  the  plan  a  recessed  lobby  is  arranged,  with  outer 
door  for  shelter,  instead  of  a  projecting  porch.  The 
principal  floor  shows  two  parlors  and  a  small  study; 
or,  if  another  arrangement  is  preferred,  a  parlor,  a  li- 
brary, and  a  spare  bedroom,  the  back  rooms  opening 
on  to  a  veranda.  In  the  basement  is  the  dining-room, 
kitchen,  coal-cellar,  and  pantries,  with  a  side  entrance 
communicating  with  the  same.  This  arrangement  is 
to  be  preferred  to  the  more  common  plan  of  putting 
the  kitchen  door  under  the  area  steps,  as  it  gives  more 
privacy,  and  uses  up  less  space  in  the  basement  for  pas- 
sage-ways. The  bedroom  plan  supplies  two  large  and 
two  small  bedrooms,  one  of  which  may  be  fitted  up  as 
a  bath-room.  The  arrangement  of  the  attics  is  some- 
what similar  to  the  chamber  plan,  two  roomy  bed- 
rooms being  supplied  over  the  principal  apartments, 
and  garret  and  store-rooms  over  the  remainder.  These 
latter  are  lighted  by  small  windows  under  the  eaves, 
the  other  two  by  the  windows  in  the  gables.  The 
roof  projects  two  feet  six  inches  all  round,  and  is  fin- 
ished with  a  simple  eaves  moulding  and  brackets. 
The  pitch  of  the  roof  is  so  high  that  there  is  a  consid- 


148 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


erable  space  between  the  ceiling  of  the  attic  rooms  and 
the  flat  overhead,  and  thus  these  rooms  are  not  open 
to  the  objections  that  often  apply  to  attic  rooms  in 
the  hot  summer  weather.  The  front  is  paneled  in 
brick,  the  panels  being  painted  of  a  tint  some  shades 
darker  than  the  rest  of  the  house,  to  avoid  monotony, 
and  to  give  value  to  the  brick  projections.  This  house 
was  built  in  a  substantial  manner,  the  carpenters  and 
mason's  contracts  being  taken  at  $3000,  including  two 
coats  of  paint,  but  exclusive  of  plumbing  and  mantles. 


The  vignette  shows  plans  and  a  view  of  a  double 
cottage  proposed  to  be  erected  on  a  fifty  feet  lot.  No 
advantage  whatever  results  from  building  two  small 
detached  cottages,  with  the  same  amount  of  accommo- 
dation in  each,  on  two  twenty-five  feet  lots ;  and  by 
building  them  back  to  back  one  wall  is  saved,  and 
both  houses  are  rendered  much  drier  and  warmer. 

The  roof  is  simpler,  and  offers  better  attic  rooms. 
The  passage-ways  at  the  side  of  each  house  are  wider, 
and  the  whole  effect  is  more  dignified  and  agreeable. 
The  plans  are  so  drawn  on  the  illustration  that  the 
entire  accommodation  is  set  forth,  the  principal  and 
chamber  floor  being  of  one  house,  and  the  attic  and 
basement  of  the  other.  This  will  require  a  little  care 
in  examination,  to  be  thoroughly  intelligible.  Each 
house  corresponds  exactly  with  the  other,  except  that 
the  plans  are  reversed. 

The  accommodation  provided  may  be  thus  described : 
A  recessed  porch,  covered  with  a  hood,  leads  to  a  hall, 
in  which  a  staircase  to  the  upper  rooms  is  planned  in 
the  usual  way.    The  parlor,  which  faces  the  front  gar- 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


149 


den,  is  lighted  by  a  bay-window,  and  communicates 
with  the  dining-room,  which  has  windows  to  the  floor 
opening  on  to  a  veranda.  In  this  room  a  recess  is 
prepared  for  a  deep  side-board,  and  a  door  at  the  far- 
ther end  connects  with  a  pantry.  This  is  shut  off 
from  the  main  hall  by  a  lobby  at  the  head  of  the  base- 
ment stairs,  and  is  fitted  up  with  closets,  in  connection 
with  which  a  lift  may  be  contrived,  if  required.  Some 
few  steps  down  this  inclosed  staircase  is  a  landing, 
from  which  a  door  opens  from  the  passage-way  at  the 
side  of  the  house,  thus  securing  a  separate  kitchen- 
entrance,  and  a  convenient  side  access  to  the  premises, 
without  any  sacrifice  of  space  in  the  passage-way,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  avoiding  a  servants1  entrance  down 
area  steps,  which  is  an  advantage,  as  an  area  is  likely 
to  get  filled  with  snow  in  the  winter. 

In  the  basement  will  be  found  a  kitchen,  with  sink- 
room  adjoining,  the  kitchen  being  provided  with  a 
large  pantry,  and  a  door  to  the  furnace-room  and  coal- 
cellar.    There  is  also  a  store-room  and  provision  cellar. 

In  the  chamber  plan  are  two  large  bedrooms  and  a 
smaller  one.  The  principal  chamber  communicates 
with  a  bath-room,  which  has  another  door  from  the 
hall ;  and  near  the  bath-room  is  a  water-closet,  with  a 
separate  external  window  and  a  linen-press.  In  the 
attic  three  large  bedrooms  are  planned,  and  a  space  for 
lumber  is  marked  on  the  plan ;  but  this  might  be  used 
as  a  clothes-room,  if  preferred,  and  the  space  overhead 
between  the  attic  ceiling  and  the  flat  could  have  a  step- 
ladder  to  it,  and  be  used  as  a  lumber  garret. 

These  houses  might  be  built  of  eight-inch  brick, 
furred  off  above  the  basement,  the  party  wall  being 
sixteen  inches  thick,  so  as  to  contain  all  the  ventila- 
ting flues  that*may  be  required. 


150 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


This  block  of  two  might  be  built  of  brick  for  $5000, 
with  a  simple  internal  finish ;  and  it  is  much  to  be  re- 
gretted that  some  attention  is  not  bestowed  on  this 
class  of  buildings,  as  it  is  a  more  economical,  and  far 
preferable  arrangement  to  erecting  small,  detached 
buildings  within  a  few  feet  of  each  other,  as  is  gener- 
ally done  on  village  streets.  In  this  design  the  rooms 
are  supposed  to  be  of  good  size,  and  the  whole  arrange- 
ment is  adapted  to  the  requirements  of  a  man  of  busi- 
ness in  comfortable  circumstances,  who  requires  to  be 
not  farther  from  his  office  or  store  than  the  immediate 
outskirts  of  the  country  town  in  which  he  resides,  and 
where,  consequently,  extra  land  will  be  both  more  val- 
uable and  of  less  use  than  it  would  be  farther  away 
from  his  neighbors.  The  same  idea  might,  if  preferred, 
be  developed  on  a  smaller  and  cheaper  scale. 


DESIGN  FOR  A  DOUBLE  COTTAGE. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


153 


DESIGN  No.  6. 

MODEL  COTTAGE. 

This  design  has  been  prepared  to  illustrate  the 
views  set  forth  in  the  opening  chapter  with  regard 
to  the  real  needs  of  a  small  family  home  in  the  coun- 
try, and  may  be  supposed  to  be  arranged  for  the  use 
of  a  man  of  simple  habits,  with  some  refinement  of 
taste.  Such  a  man  would  be  a  lover  of  hospitality, 
fond  of  fresh  air,  free  space,  and  an  easy  life,  and 
willing  to  take  advantage  of  all  reasonable  modern 
improvements  in  the  art  of  living  comfortably;  but, 
from  choice  as  much  as  necessity,  being  economical  in 
his  requirements,  he  would  have  as  strong  an  aversion 
for  empty  display  as  for  scanty  baldness  in  arrange- 
ment or  detail. 

The  plan  shows  an  entrance-porch  and  small  hall, 
in  which  are  hat  and  cloak  closets.  All  the  family 
accommodation  provided  on  this  floor  is  a  parlor  com- 
municating with  a  dining-room,  and  both  opening  on 
to  a  wide  veranda.  The  parlor  has  a  large  bay  pro- 
jection, with  seat  round  it,  and  the  dining-room  is  fit- 


ted up  with  a  book-case,  B,  a  side-board  recess,  R, 
and  connects  with  a  roomy  pantry,  in  which  is  a  lift, 
L,  a  sink,  S,  a  china-closet,  a  row  of  shelves,  and  a 


154 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


hanging-table.  The  dining-room  also  communicates 
with  a  garden  entrance-lobby,  fitted  up  with  a  wash- 
stand,  and  connecting  with  a  water-closet.  The  stair- 
case-hall is  shut  off  from  the  main  hall,  and  the  base- 
ment staircase,  opening  on  to  the  pantry,  is  partitioned 
off  from  the  principal  staircase ;  thus  all  necessary  pri- 
vacy is  insured.  The  basement  plan  explains  itself, 
cellarage  being  obtained  by  excavating  under  the  ve- 
randa. The  chamber  plan  supplies  a  family  bedroom, 
with  dressing-room,  large  closets,  and  bath-room  at- 
tached: it  also  connects  with  a  small  bedroom  that 
has  an  entrance  from  the  hall.  A  water-closet  is  pro- 
vided close  to  the  bath-room ;  and  one  other  guest's 
bedroom,  as  will  be  seen  on  the  plan,  and  a  linen-room 
under  the  roof  of  pantry  building  completes  the  accom- 
modation on  this  floor.  In  the  attic  are  two  good  bed- 
rooms, a  store-closet,  and  a  large  garret.  Another  bed- 
room might  be  finished  off,  if  preferred. 

The  wooden  outside  porch  is  proposed  to  be  finish- 
ed with  an  open  timber  roof,  the  rafters  being  planed 
smooth  and  chamfered  on  the  edge,  and  the  boarding 
being  matched  and  beaded.  Provision  is  also  made 
here  for  fitting  sashes  in  the  panels,  and  for  hanging 
an  outer  door  when  required.  Such  a  porch  should 
be  paved  in  preference  to  being  boarded,  and  as  per- 
manent seats  are  planned  on  each  side,  and  the  pro- 
jection from  the  house  is  ten  feet,  an  arrangement  of 
this  sort  will  be  found  by  the  inmates  a  very  tolerable 
substitute  for  a  veranda  when  the  sun  is  shining  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  house. 

The  large  bay  projection  in  the  parlor  is  proposed 
to  be  constructed  of  the  same  materials  as  the  walls 
of  the  house,  with  three  sash-windows  fitted  into  it. 
The  ceiling  is  intended  to  be  of  the  same  height  as  the 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


155 


room,  and  to  have  a  balcony  over  it  accessible  from 
the  chamber  above.  By  finishing  the  bay  projection 
without  an  interior  arch,  the  apartment  will  be  much 
increased  in  apparent  dimensions,  as  the  eye  is  natu- 
rally apt  to  judge  of  the  size  of  a  room  by  the  bound- 
ary lines  of  the  cornice.  There  are  several  methods 
of  treating  such  an  arrangement  of  a  bay  projection 
in  a  satisfactory  manner  internally. 

The  other  living-room,  which  should  be  library  and 
dining-room  in  one,  might  appropriately  be  finished 
with  Georgia  pine,  unpainted,  and  a  moulded  skirt- 
ing, or  wainscoting,  about  two  feet  three  inches  high 
round  the  sides,  would  connect  the  various  openings  to- 
gether in  an  agreeable  and  not  very  expensive  manner. 

The  exterior  of  this  house  is  simply  designed.  There 
is  no  attempt  to  make  it  "all  corners  and  all  gables,11 
or  to  evade  the  fact  that  it  is  a  straightforward,  rectan- 
gular house ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  an  effort  has  been 
made  to  give  it  a  somewhat  picturesque  character  in 
the  arrangement  of  the  roof  and  dormer-windows.  The 
slight  curve  at  the  eaves  (of  which  the  method  of  con- 
struction has  been  explained  in  the  introductory  chap- 
ter) helps  materially  to  reduce  the  hardness  and  angu- 
larity of  line  that  would  otherwise  be  somewhat  prom- 
inent in  such  a  simple  arrangement  of  roof.  It  will 
also  be  observed  that,  as  the  principal  gable  is  wider 
than  the  entrance  hall,  the  parlor  window,  which  is 
naturally  planned  in  the  centre  of  the  room,  would 
appear  one-sided  on  the  exterior  elevation,  if  some 
precaution  were  not  taken  to  avoid  this  disagreeable 
effect.  A  slightly-projecting  pier,  arranged  to  receive 
the  rain-water  pipe,  is  therefore  introduced  at  the  an- 
gle, and  the  balance  is  thus  restored,  as  the  windows 
appear  now  to  be  planned  in  the  centre  of  the  panel 


156 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


thus  formed,  and  a  corresponding  arrangement  is,  of 
course,  adopted  on  the  staircase  side  of  the  hall,  so 
that  the  necessary  uniformity  may  be  preserved. 

Such  a  house  as  this  could  be  fairly  built  for  $3500 
in  ordinary  building  times,  and  is  equally  fitted  for  a 
brick,  wood,  or  stone  construction.  The  same  general 
plan  may  be  amplified  so  as  to  include  a  kitchen  wing 
with  back  staircase,  and  may  be  adapted  to  a  flatter 
pitch  of  roof.  An  example  of  such  a  modification, 
which  was  prepared  for  a  site  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Shrewsbury,  L.  L,  is  illustrated  below. 


CHAMBEE  PLAN.  ATTIC  PLAN, 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


157 


The  vignette  shows  a  study  for  a  farm-house  intend- 
ed to  be  built  of  brick  or  stone.  The  aim  here  has 
been  to  design  a  building  that  shall  be  domestic  and 
simple,  and  yet  not  unsuited  in  artistic  effect  to  take 
its  place  in  a  rural  landscape.  One  disagreeable  pe- 
culiarity that  is  often  noticeable  in  American  farm- 
houses is,  that  they  are  too  full  of  windows,  and  have, 
in  consequence,  an  undignified,  mean  effect.  Breadth 
of  surface  has  been  sought  for  in  this  study,  and  no 
more  windows  have  been  introduced  than  entire  con- 
venience requires/ the  plan  being  arranged  accordingly. 
Thus,  though  there  are  four  openings  under  the  front 
veranda,  only  two  are  inserted  in  the  next  story ;  for 
if  two  more  windows  were  added  on  the  chamber 
floor,  the  whole  effect  of  repose  would  be  destroyed, 
without  any  advantage  being  gained  in  interior  com- 
fort. The  accommodation  in  the  main  part  of  the 
house  consists  of  a  hall  with  a  staircase  in  it,  a  parlor 
communicating  with  a  general  living-room,  and  a  bed- 
room connecting  with  this  apartment  and  the  kitchen 
wing.  It  is  not  thought  necessary  to  provide  a  sep- 
arate passage  to  the  kitchen  from  the  front  door,  and 
it  is  calculated  that  the  family-room  will  be  used  as  a 
dining-room.  It  is  the  custom  with  some  farmers  to 
make  a  constant  practice  of  taking  all  meals  in  the 
kitchen ;  but  this  habit  marks  a  low  state  of  civiliza- 
tion. The  occupation  of  farming  is  the  natural  em- 
ployment of  a  human  being,  and  it  ought  to  be  made 
a  refined  and  noble  pursuit,  not  a  mere  way  of  earn- 
ing a  rude  subsistence.  It  is  among  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  the  farmers  that  the  pith  and  marrow  of 
a  country  are  to  be  found,  and  every  grace  that  be- 
longs to  rural  life  should  find  its  highest  examples  in 
the  home  and  family  of  the  intelligent  American  farm- 


158 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


er.  The  wing  building  in  the  design  under  considera- 
tion contains  a  side  entrance,  with  veranda-porch,  sev- 
eral pantries,  a  roomy  kitchen,  a  wash-room,  and  a 
wood-house.  The  chamber  plan  in  the  main  building 
contains  three  large  and  two  small  bedrooms,  a  linen- 
press,  and  a  staircase  to  an  extensive  open  garret. 
The  kitchen  wing  contains  four  secondary  bedrooms, 
approached  by  a  flight  of  stairs  in  the  wood-house, 
and  accessible  also  from  the  main  building  through 
one  of  the  bedrooms,  as  it  is  not  thought  worth  while 
in  a  farm  house  to  sacrifice  the  space  that  would  be  re- 
quired for  a  separate  communicating  passage  between 
the  upper  hall  in  the  main  house  and  the  wing  rooms. 


PRINCIPAL  FLOORPLAPi.  CHAMBER  PLAN. 


DESIGN  No.  7. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


161 


DESIGN  No.  7. 

COTTAGE  RESIDENCE. 

This  design  illustrates  a  cottage  residence  built  for 
Mr.  Wright,  of  Goshen.  It  was  required  that  the 
kitchen  and  its  accessories  should  be  on  the  same 
floor  as  the  living-rooms,  but  the  house  was  not  pro- 
posed to  be  of  such  a  size  as  would  warrant  the  erec- 
tion of  a  separate  wing  for  this  purpose.  The  whole 
building  is,  therefore,  under  one  roof,  and  the  kitchen 
is  so  placed  that  its  contiguity  to  the  principal  rooms 
does  not  interfere  with  the  privacy  that  properly  be- 
longs to  the  apartments  in  constant  use  by  the  family. 

A  porch  of  brick,  communicating  by  arched  open- 
ings, with  verandas  on  each  side  of  it,  forms  the  prin- 
cipal entrance,  and  opens  on  to  a  hall  8x15  feet  six 
inches.  This  porch  is  so  arranged  that  the  arched 
openings  at  the  sides  can  be  closed  with  glazed  frames 
in  winter,  and  the  central  opening  fitted  with  a  frame 
and  door,  thus  making  a  double  hall,  that  is  a  great 


advantage  in  severe  weather,  as  it  prevents  the  ingress 
of  a  draught  of  cold  air  whenever  the  front  door  is 
opened,  and  offers  a  protection  from  storm  to  visitors 
while  waiting  for  the  servant  to  attend  to  the  bell. 
The  parlor  and  dining-room  open  from  the  hall  by 

L 


162 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


doors  opposite  each  other.  The  parlor  has  a  bay-win- 
dow and  a  door  opening  on  to  a  small  private  veran- 
da that  is  not  overlooked  by  any  one  approaching  the 
house.  The  dining-room  is  15  0x18  6.  It  is  unde- 
sirable that  any  dining-room,  and  more  particularly 
one  that  is  used  as  an  ordinary  living-room,  should  be 
directly  connected  with  the  kitchen,  for  various  evi- 
dent reasons ;  and  it  is  equally  inconvenient  to  have 
the  halls  and  passages  that  belong  to  the  other  apart- 
ments occupied  several  times  a  day  by  the  servant 
whose  business  it  is  to  prepare  the  table  for  meals 
and  to  clear  away  afterward.  In  the  present  instance 
the  difficulty  has  been  overcome  by  constructing  a  one- 
story  inclosure  corresponding  in  design  with  the  pri- 
vate veranda  on  the  other  side  of  the  house.  This  is 
of  wood,  and,  at  small  cost,  adds  much  to  the  con- 
venience, and  something  to  the  appearance  of  the 
house.  Its  effect  is  shown  on  the  lower  perspective 
view.  A  pantry  between  the  kitchen  and  dining-room 
is  thus  obtained,  communicating  with  both ;  and  by 
this  means  convenience  of  access,  without  loss  of  pri- 
vacy, is  secured.  A  store-room  for  the  kitchen  is  also 
supplied  in  this  little  outbuilding,  and  also  a  sink- 
room  ;  this  latter,  having  two  small  windows  on  op- 
posite sides,  is  well  ventilated,  and  renders  the  kitch- 
en a  much  more  pleasant  apartment  for  servants  to 
live  in,  as  it  relieves  it  of  the  most  disagreeable  part 
of  the  work.  The  kitchen  is  12  0x15  6,  and  has  a 
door  close  to  the  back  entrance  and  to  the  cellar  stairs. 
If  preferred,  this  back  entrance  might  be  shut  off  en- 
tirely from  the  principal  staircase  by  a  door  across 
the  hall  on  the  same  line  as  the  cellar  door,  thus  dis- 
connecting the  kitchen  still  more  completely ;  but  it 
is  not  shown  so  on  the  plan. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


163 


The  staircase  hall  is  entered  from  the  main  hall,  and 
communicates  with  a  bedroom,  12x14,  on  the  princi- 
pal floor.  This  room  could,  of  course,  be  used  as  a 
library  or  study,  if  preferred ;  but  it  adds  much  to  the 
convenience  of  a  country  house  to  have  one  bedroom 
that,  in  cases  of  sickness,  can  be  approached  without 
the  labor  of  going  up  and  down  stairs.  It  is  worthy 
of  consideration  in  a  cottage  residence  that,  at  seasons 
of  festivity,  the  rooms  may  be  required  to  hold  an  un- 
usual number  of  persons  ;  and  though  it  is  not  desira- 
ble to  sacrifice  any  family  comfort  in  the  plan  on  this 
ground,  it  is  as  well  to  bear  it  in  mind.  In  this  de- 
sign, in  the  event  of  an  entertainment,  the  rear  en- 
trance should  be  used  by  visitors  ;  the  bedroom  would 
thus  be  close  at  hand,  and  could  be  used  as  a  cloak- 
room, while  the  parlor  and  dining-room  would  make 
one  suite  with  the  front  hall  and  porch,  the  doors  of 
communication  being  thrown  open.  Additional  room 
could  be  easily  gained  for  a  summer  entertainment  by 
temporarily  inclosing  the  front  veranda  outside  with 
calico,  or  any  similar  material,  lightly  affixed ;  and  if 
the  veranda  posts  are  covered  with  creeping  plants,  as 
they  should  be,  the  effect  of  such  a  leafy  gallery  as  is 
thus  obtained  when  lighted  up  at  night  is  very  cool 
and  elegant. 

The  chamber  plan  contains  four  bedrooms  and  a 
small  study  or  sewing-room,  8x11,  opening  by  glazed 
doors  on  t(3  a  balcony  over  the  porch.  A  flat  of  this 
sort  offers  a  good  opportunity  to  the  ladies  of  the 
house  to  cultivate  flowers  in  pots  with  little  trouble, 
and  when  thus  used,  it  is  a  useful  and  agreeable  acces- 
sory. In  this  country,  either  from  climate  or  some 
other  cause,  ladies  generally  find  it  either  too  hot  or 
too  cold  for  gardening;  and  as  it  devolves  on  the 


164 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


feminine  portion  of  the  household  to  attend  to  these 
minor  matters  where  a  regular  gardener  is  not  en- 
gaged, it  is  worth  while  to  take  advantage  of  any  op- 
portunity like  this  to  keep  the  flower  vases  filled  with 
finer  and  better-tended  specimens  than  will  be  likely 
to  be  found  in  the  flower-beds  on  the  lawn. 

The  attic  plan  contains  two  servants'  bedrooms  and 
a  roomy  garret. 

The  plan  of  the  roof  of  this  house  will  illustrate  the 
general  arrangement  that  experience  seems  to  show  is 
the  most  desirable  for  the  roofs  of  country  houses  ex- 
posed to  a  climate  so  peculiar  as  that  of  these  North- 
ern States :  it  is  suited,  indeed,  for  any  climate,  but  is 
especially  called  for  here. 

The  main  requirements  in  a  roof  are,  that  it  shall 
keep  off  the  wet;  that  it  shall  offer  no  opportunities 
for  snow  to  lie  where  it  can  thaw,  and  freeze,  and  be  a 
nuisance ;  and  that  it  shall  supply  cool  and  commodi- 
ous attic  rooms,  if  needed.  By  projecting  the  roof 
two  feet  six  inches  or  three  feet,  and  cutting  the  gut- 
ter into  the  rafters,  the  walls  will  be  well  protected 
from  the  wet,  and  by  invariably  avoiding  solid  para- 
pets and  horizontal  gutters  between  gables,  the  snow 
will  be  no  inconvenience.  A  flat  connecting  the  va- 
rious ridges  supplies  free  room  in  the  attic,  and  is  in 
every  respect  a  complete  mode  of  construction,  while 
any  plan  that  requires  gutters  between  the  gables  is 
sure  to  give  trouble  at  some  time  or  another.  The 
snow  that  falls  on  a  flat  of  this  sort  is  generally  blown 
off  at  once,  as  it  is  so  much  exposed  to  the  wind.  If, 
however,  it  should  happen  to  lie,  and  thaw  and  freeze 
for  a  month  together,  it  can  not  do  any  harm,  as  it  is 
unrestricted  on  every  side,  and  drips  away  down  the 
roof  as  it  melts. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


1C5 


Very  much  depends  on  the  appearance  of  the  roof 
in  a  country  house,  for  it  is  the  first  and  last  feature 
that  impresses  the  eye,  and  it  should  be  made  an  im- 
portant part  of  every  design.  It  is  for  this  reason 
that  so  many  plans  of  roofs  are  inserted  in  this  work, 
and  I  hope  that  the  casual  reader  may  be  induced  to 
give  some  attention  to  their  arrangement.  For  this 
design  the  plans,  specifications,  and  working  drawings 
were  furnished  without  superintendence;  and  as  the 
house  has  been  erected  several  years,  I  lately  wrote  to 
the  proprietor,  asking  him  as  to  its  ultimate  cost,  and 
if  a  personal  residence  in  the  house  had  suggested  to 
him  any  improvement  on  the  plan.  He  replies,  "As 
near,  as  I  could  get  at  the  cost  of  the  house,  for  which 
you  drew  plans,  it  was  $4200.  With  reference  to  al- 
terations in  the  plan,  I  know  of  none  that  I  would  be 
willing  to  advise,  although  others  of  more  knowledge 
of  construction  might. " 


The  vignette  illustrates  an  artist's  studio,  designed 
for  Mr.  Jervis  M'Entee,  landscape  painter,  of  Ron- 
dout,  and  built  by  him  of  wood,  fitted  in  a  substan- 
tial, simple  way,  for  $400.  It  is  finely  placed  on  an 
elevated  site,  and  commands  an  extended  view  of  the 
Kaatskills  and  the  Hudson.  On  the  plan  it  is  one 
simple  room :  the  ceiling  line  follows  the  line  of  the 
roof  and  collar  beams,  so  as  to  give  height  and  a  more 
airy  effect  to  the  interior.  All  the  rafters  are  left  vis- 
ible, the  plastering  being  fitted  between  them.  Some 
time  after  the  design  had  been  built  and  occupied,  Mr. 
M'Entee  added  a  portion  of  a  simple  cottage  residence 
in  corresponding  style,  the  studio  still  remaining  in 


166 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


use  for  its  original  purpose.  The  complete  effect  aimed 
at  is  shown  on  the  lower  view  and  plan. 

As  the  parlor,  the  veranda,  and  the  porch  are  not 
yet  built,  a  somewhat  disproportioned  result  is  ob- 
tained for  the  present,  as  the  wing  looks  larger  than 
the  house ;  but  its  accommodation  and  cost,  as  it 
stands,  is  all  sufficient  for  the  immediate  needs  and 
circumstances  of  its  proprietor,  who  has  judiciously 
preferred  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  his  neighbors1  criti- 
cism for  a  time,  and  to  plan  his  house  as  he  will  want 
it,  carrying  it  out  by  degrees  as  opportunity  offers, 
rather  than  to  adopt  a  snug  arrangement  complete 
in  itself,  which,  although  suitable  enough  for  to-clay, 
would,  in  all  probability,  be  in  a  few  years  inconven- 
iently small  for  his  own  needs ;  and  if  he  wanted  to 
sell  at  any  time,  could  hardly  fail  to  prove  an  unde- 
sirable investment  on  a  site  constantly  improving  in 
value,  and  that  might,  in  all  probability,  be  disposed 
of  to  advantage  at  any  time,  with  a  roomy  house  on 
it,  or  a  building  that  could  easily  be  made  a  good 
family  residence,  without  pulling  down  the  existing 
building  or  injuring  its  general  appearance.  The 
house  as  it  at  present  stands,  with  hall,  dining-room, 
pantry,  small  bedroom,  and  studio,  on  principal  floor, 
three  bedrooms  and  a  little  bath-room  above,  and  base- 
ment kitchen,  with  cellars  below,  has  cost  $2000;  and 
Mr.  M'Entee  calculates  that  another  $1000  would  ren- 
der it  complete,  as  shown,  giving  a  second  kitchen  be- 
low, a  best  parlor  and  a  best  bedroom  over,  in  addition 
to  the  accommodation  already  provided. 

The  scenery  in  the  neighborhood  of  this  cottage  is 
of  the  most  striking  and  varied  description,  and  the 
eye  looks  over  a  range  of  country  extending  from  the 
North  and  South  Beacons  at  Fishkill,  on  one  side,  to 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


167 


the  lofty  Round  Top  and  Woodstock  Peak  on  the 
other.  A  white,  isolated  speck,  visible  in  the  gray 
distance,  marks  the  situation  of  the  Kaatskill  Mount- 
ain House,  and  calls  to  mind  the  many  beautiful  spots 
in  its  vicinity,  one  of  which,  "The  Falls,11  I  have 
thought  it  worth  while  to  speak  of  more  particularly 
here,  because  its  pictorial  effect  is  much  injured  by 
the  un architectural  treatment  it  has  received  at  the 
hands  of  those  who  have  attempted  to  make  the  ac- 
cess to  it  more  satisfactory  to  tourists.  This  beautiful 
fall  of  water  is  so  picturesquely  grouped  in  connection 
with  the  trees  and  the  rocky  precipitous  sides  of  the 
mountain,  that  its  upper  edge,  or  lip,  seen  through  the 
spray  from  below,  would  ajopear  to  be  at  a  great  height 
from  the  eye,  if  it  were  not  for  a  clumsy  boarded 
structure  that  has  been  erected  just  on  the  brink  of  the 
descent  to  afford  visitors  a  view  clear  down  into  the 
valley.  This  square  mass  in  a  great  measure  destroys 
the  effect  that  Nature  has  attempted  so  successfully  to 
produce,  and  is  one  among  very  many  unfortunate  in- 
stances of  harm  done  to  picturesque  scenery  through  a 
lack  of  a  little  architectural  knowledge  in  a  rural  way. 
The  practical  advantage  gained  is  at  once  allowed ;  but 
the  important  point  is,  that  an  equally  satisfactory  and 
convenient  result  might  have  been  attained,  not  only 
without  any  sacrifice  of  picturesque  effect,  but  with 
even  some  advantage  in  this  respect.  For  example, 
the  boarded  structure  might  have  been  omitted  alto- 
gether, and  a  rough  stone  wall  built  up  in  great  blocks, 
and  without  mortar,  to  the  requisite  height  in  a  bold, 
irregular  manner,  could  have  received  a  platform  at 
the  required  level,  and  a  small,  picturesque  building 
might  have  been  placed  on  this  platform,  if  needed. 
In  a  year  or  so,  by  this  arrangement,  the  rude  new 


1G8 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


wall  would  have  been  covered  up  with  vines  and 
creepers,  so  that  it  would  have  added  an  actual  twen- 
ty feet  to  the  real  height  at  this  point,  and  an  appa- 
rent height,  when  seen  from  below,  of  thirty  or  forty 
feet.  As  the  building  stands  at  present  it  dwarfs  the 
appearance  of  the  fall,  and  can  hardly  fail  to  strike  the 
eye  as  a  decided  blemish,  obtruded  on  the  attention  at 
the  most  interesting  point  of  view  in  the  whole  land- 
scape in  which  it  occurs. 


DESIGN  FOE  AN  AETIST'S  STUDIO". 


N.E.VIEW. 

SHOWING  THE  COTTAGE  COMPLETED. 


DESIGN  No.  S. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


171 


DESIGN  No.  8. 

A  SMALL  COUNTRY  HOUSE  WITH  KITCHEN  WING. 

This  design  was  prepared  and  executed  for  Mr.  R. 
L.  Case,  of  Newburgh ;  and  the  general  idea  of  the 
plan  includes  so  much  that  is  called  for  by  the  Amer- 
ican climate  and  habits  of  life  in  the  Northern  States, 
that  it  will  probably  be  better  worth  the  attention  of 
those  who  wish  to  build  a  moderate-sized  cheap  house, 
with  a  kitchen  above  ground,  than  many  other  plans 
of  more  pretension.  It  possesses  one  convenient  qual- 
ity, which  some  other  styles  of  plans  can  not  be  ar- 
ranged to  include,  for  it  admits  of  many  modifica- 
tions, without  sacrificing  its  advantages.  It  may  be 
completely  altered  in  outside  appearance,  and  doubled 
in  extent  of  interior  accommodation,  and  yet  be  in 
reality  the  same  plan.  It  can  be  adapted  to  almost 
any  situation  by  a  proper  arrangement  of  the  roofs. 
Thus,  for  example,  on  an  elevated  and  somewhat  open 
site,  such  as  the  one  that  Mr.  Case's  house  occupies,  a 


roof  of  only  moderate  pitch  is  desirable.  On  level 
ground,  or  in  a  valley,  a  high-pitched  roof  should  be 
preferred.  It  is  also  an  economical  plan  for  the  ac- 
commodation afforded,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  particu- 


172 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


lars  oi  cost  that  are  annexed.  The  house,  as  now  fin- 
ished, is  constructed  with  an  eight-inch  brick  wall, 
furred  off  outside,  and  covered  with  clap-boards  in  the 
ordinary  way  followed  in  a  wooden  building.  This 
plan  of  construction  was  adopted  in  accordance  with 
the  special  request  of  the  proprietor,  who  preferred  it 
to  any  other  method.  Its  advantages  are,  that  it  se- 
cures to  a  certainty  a  perfectly  dry  interior  wall.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  seems  undesirable  to  have  a  brick 
house,  and  to  give  it  the  appearance  of  a  wooden  one, 
as  brick  is  the  superior  and  more  durable-looking  ma- 
terial. The  accommodation  may  be  thus  described :  A 
veranda-porch  on  the  east  provides  a  covered  approach 
to  the  front  door.  The  principal  hall,  11  6x  10  feet, 
gives  access  to  the  parlor  and  library,  both  of  which 
are  on  the  south  of  the  house,  and  also  to  the  dining- 
room.  Another  door  opens  on  to  a  staircase-hall, 
which  is  easily  accessible  either  from  the  principal 
rooms  or  from  the  kitchen  wing.  This  is  desirable, 
as  the  scale  of  the  house  would  not  warrant  a  second 
staircase.  An  east  and  a  south  veranda  are  supplied 
to  the  principal  rooms,  but  each  has  windows  that  are 
unobstructed  by  any  veranda.  The  dining-room  con- 
nects through  a  pantry  with  the  kitchen  wing,  which 
is  also  approached  from  the  main  body  of  the  house 
under  the  staircase.  A  lobby  opens  on  to  a  kitchen 
veranda,  facing  south,  that  provides  a  servants'  en- 
trance, and  is  convenient  for  hanging  out  clothes  un- 
der cover  in  rainy  weather.  A  kitchen,  17x13,  fitted 
up  with  closets,  wash-trays,  and  store-room,  completes 
the  accommodation  on  the  main  floor  and  wing.  By 
this  plan  the  disadvantages  of  living  in  the  basement 
are  entirely  avoided,  and  the  lady  of  the  house  can 
superintend  her  servants  with  ease  and  comfort. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


173 


In  the  chamber  plan  will  be  found  five  bedrooms, 
and  a  bath-room  and  water-closet;  and  in  the  wing 
two  bedrooms,  a  linen-press,  and  a  house-maid's  sink. 
All  these  rooms  are  supplied  with  registers  near  the 
ceiling  that  communicate  with  foul  air  flues  separate 
from  the  chimney-flues.  In  the  garret  over  the  bath- 
room is  a  large,  well-lighted  linen-room ;  and  as  this 
is  planned  on  the  half-landing,  it  is  very  easy  of  ac- 
cess from  the  chamber  floor.  A  large  store-room,  the 
size  of  the  bedroom  over  the  dining-room,  is  finished 
off  under  the  roof  in  a  common  way,  and  is  secured 
with  a  door  after  being  inclosed  from  the  stairs  by  a 
plastered  partition.  The  remainder  of  the  space  is 
open  and  unplastered.  It  makes  a  very  roomy  gar- 
ret, with  plenty  of  headway  all  over  it ;  but  the  win- 
dows in  the  peaks  are,  of  course,  close  to  the  floor, 
and  it  was  never  intended  that  any  bedrooms  should 
be  fitted  up  here.  The  roof  is  covered  with  shingles, 
the  flat  being  floored  and  covered  with  canvas.  In 
the  basement  are  cellars  and  furnace-room,  the  kitch- 
en-wing foundations  not  being  carried  down  farther 
than  was  necessary  to  keep  clear  of  frost.  In  this 
house  special  precaution  was  taken,  by  Mr.  Case's  re- 
quest, with  regard  to  the  plumber  s  work.  All  the 
pipes,  hot,  cold,  and  waste,  were  inclosed  in  a  tin  en- 
velope fitted  tolerably  closely  to  the  pipes.  As  the 
work  proceeded  this  tin  case  was  soldered  up  every 
here  and  there,  and  particularly  where  the  pipe  is  led 
through  the  wall,  in  the  first  instance,  and  where  it 
starts  from  the  boiler.  By  this  means  the  little  insects 
that  work  their  way  from  below,  and  are  often  found 
about  water  fixtures  in  rooms,  are  prevented  from 
crawling  up  and  down,  and  breeding  among  the  warm 
pipes,  as  they  are  tempted  to  do  in  many  situations. 


174 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


The  carpenter's  contract  for  this  house  was  taken  at 
$3500  ;  the  mason's  at  $2500  ;  the  remainder  of  the 
work  was  done  by  the  day. 

After  the  contracts  had  been  made  the  proprietor 
left  the  work  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  architect; 
and,  with  the  exception  that  hard  walls  were  substi- 
tuted for  brown  walls  throughout,  and  that  some  tri- 
fling alterations  were  made  in  the  arrangements  for 
the  linen-press,  the  plans,  as  signed,  were  faithfully 
executed  for  the  contract  amount,  without  any  diffi- 
culty whatever.  The  carpenter's  and  mason's  extras, 
which  amounted  to  $350,  included  the  change  from 
brown  wall  to  hard  finish,  and  all  the  work  apper- 
taining to  a  large  outbuilding  at  some  distance  from 
the  house. 


The  vignette  illustrates  an  unexecuted  study  for  a 
garden,  outbuilding,  and  is  supposed  to  be  located  in 
a  situation  where  it  must  be  seen  more  or  less. 


PLAN 

DESIGN  FOE  AN  OUTBUILDING. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


177 


DESIGN  No.  9. 

AN  IRREGULAR  BRICK  COUNTRY  HOUSE. 

In  this  design,  which  was  made  for  Mr.  J.  Robins, 
of  Yonkers,  a  brick  porch,  connected  with  a  veranda, 
and  so  arranged  that  it  can  be  inclosed  in  winter,  leads 
to  a  roomy,  well-lighted  hall,  in  which  is  an  open  stair- 
case to  the  chamber  floor.  A  staircase  of  this  sort 
may  be  made  quite  an  agreeable  feature  in  an  open 
front  hall,  if  there  is  a  back  stairway  to  the  bedrooms. 
This  is  provided  in  the  present  case,  so  that  the  serv- 
ants need  not  use  the  principal  stairway  when  attend- 
ing to  the  chambers.  The  library  is  a  pleasant  room, 
15x18,  unconnected  with  any  other  apartment,  and 
with  windows  opening  on  to  the  veranda.  It  is  en- 
tered from  one  side  of  the  hall,  and  the  parlor,  17x21, 
from  a  door  opposite.  This  room  is  supplied  with  a 
bay-window,  and  connects  with  the  dining-room,  which 
also  communicates  directly  with  the  main  hall,  and 
with  a  pantry,  or  service-room,  that  has  a  private  ac- 


PLAN  OF  CHAMEERS .  PLAN  OF  ATTICS.  PLAN  OF  ROOFS. 


cess  from  the  kitchen  department.  Both  the  parlor 
and  dining-room  open  on  to  a  wide  veranda.  The 
kitchen  is  15x17,  and  has  an  entrance-porch,  with 
sink  and  larder.    The  lower  floor  is  occupied  for  cel- 

M 


178 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


lars  and  furnace-room,  and  is  not  finished  off.  In  the 
plan  of  second  floor  will  be  found  five  roomy  cham- 
bers, a  bath-room,  and  a  linen-press  under  attic  stairs. 
One  of  these,  which  would  probably  be  a  spare  room, 
occurs  over  the  kitchen,  and  has  a  ceilins:  following 
the  line  of  roof  and  collar  beams,  which  makes  it  more 
airy  and  agreeable,  and  improves  its  appearance,  with- 
out sacrifice  of  space,  as  there  are  no  attic  rooms  over 
the  kitchen  department.  In  the  attic  of  main  build- 
ing three  bedrooms  are  finished  off.  It  also  provides 
a  large  garret,  and  a  skylight  to  main  stairway.  The 
plan  of  the  roof  is  deserving  of  some  attention,  as  it 
covers  a  large  space,  without  occupying  much  room  in 
the  flat.  The  rear  of  this  house  looks  down  a  some- 
what steep  hill,  at  the  foot  of  which  runs  the  princi- 
pal approach  road;  and  the  roofs  are,  therefore,  hipped 
back  on  this  front,  so  as  to  prevent  them  from  appear- 
ing in  too  acute  perspective  when  viewed  from  below, 
as  would  otherwise  undoubtedly  be  the  case. 

This  house  is  built  at  Yonkers,  of  brick,  the  venti- 
lator and  dormer-window  shown  on  the  drawing  being 
subsequent  additions. 


BOAT-LANDING  IN  TIIE  CENTEAL  PARK. 


DESIGN  No.  10.— (V.  &  W.) 


PEKSPECTIVE  VIEW. 


PLAN  OF  PRINCIPAL  FLOOR. 


PLAN  OF  CHAMBERS. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


181 


DESIGN  No.  10. 

(V.  &  W.) 

SUBURBAN  HOUSE  WITH  ATTICS. 

This  is  a  study  for  a  simple  suburban  brick  house 
of  moderate  size,  square  on  plan,  with  the  exception 
of  a  small  central  projection ;  and  it  depends  almost 
entirely  on  the  roof  lines  for  any  picturesqueness  of 
character  that  it  may  lay  claim  to.  It  has  been  de- 
signed and  executed  for  a  gentleman  residing  in 
Newburgh.  The  plan  has  been  slightly  modified  in 
execution,  the  bedroom  on  the  principal  floor  being 
finally  arranged  as  a  second  parlor;  but  as  this  does 
not  improve  the  plan  for  our  present  purpose  as 
an  example  of  peculiar  arrangement  of  accommoda- 
tion, the  original  design  is  adhered  to  in  the  illustra- 
tions. 

The  house  is  entered  by  a  recessed  porch,  with  a 
covered  balcony  overhead.  This  upper  balcony  being 
also  recessed  in  the  brick-work,  and  inclosed  at  the 
sides,  is  always  in  shadow,  and  materially  helps  to  re- 
lieve what  would  otherwise  be  a  monotonous  front. 
This  space  is  fitted  with  a  glazed  frame  in  the  winter, 
the  porch  being  inclosed  with  folding-doors  as  soon  as 
the  cold  weather  sets  in.  The  hall  extends  through 
the  house,  and  communicates  with  a  parlor  and  bed- 
room, a  dining-room,  and  a  veranda  in  the  rear.  The 
main  stairs  are  in  this  open  hall,  and  on  the  half-land- 
ing is  a  connection,  through  a  French  casement-win- 
dow, with  a  balcony  over  the  veranda,  from  which  a 
pretty  view  is  gained.    The  parlor  has  a  large  bay- 


182 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


window  in  it,  the  cornice  of  the  room  being  carried 
round  the  recess  that  it  forms.  There  is  a  private 
door  from  this  room  to  the  bedroom  adjoining. 

It  is  not  generally  a  desirable  plan  to  give  up  the 
space  necessary  for  a  bedroom  on  the  principal  floor ; 
but  circumstances  occur  in  which  it  is  a  very  great  de- 
sideratum, and  this  study  may  serve  to  show  how,  in 
a  simple  house,  the  idea  may  be  developed.  It  will 
be  perceived  that  a  portion  of  the  veranda  is  inclosed 
for  a  small  dressing-room  to  this  bedroom,  thus  mak- 
ing it  a  far  more  commodious  sleeping  apartment  than 
it  would  otherwise  be.  The  dining-room  connects  with 
a  pantry,  and  is  also  supplied  with  a  large  china-clos- 
et. The  pantry  is  fitted  up  with  hanging-shelf,  draw- 
ers, and  closet,  and  connects  with  the  kitchen,  which 
is  thus  shut  off  from  the  living-rooms,  although  under 
the  same  roof  as  the  rest  of  the  house.  An  inclosure 
of  the  veranda,  similar  in  size  to  that  on  the  opposite 
side,  supplies  a  space  for  a  pantry  and  sink-room. 
The  servants1  entrance  is  quite  convenient  of  access 
from  the  road,  but,  at  the  same  time,  is  shut  off  by 
its  position  from  interfering  with  the  privacy  of  the 
veranda.  A  door,  where  shown  near  the  hall  door 
to  veranda,  incloses  the  basement  stairs  for  the  use  of 
the  kitchen,  and  a  compact  flight  of  stairs  from  the 
kitchen  itself  provides  a  separate  access  for  the  serv- 
ants to  the  bedrooms  above.  This  staircase  occupies 
a  very  small  space,  and  is  a  great  addition  to  the  con- 
venience of  the  house.  In  the  basement  is  a  wash- 
room under  kitchen,  with  an  outer  entrance,  close  by 
servants'  entrance,  for  convenience  in  carrying  out 
clothes  to  dry.  The  remainder  of  the  space  is  not  fin- 
ished off,  and  furnishes  cellars  and  furnace-room. 

A  straight  veranda  inclosed  on  both  sides  would 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


183 


not,  perhaps,  be  thought  sufficiently  airy,  and  a  pro- 
jection is  therefore  made,  as  will  be  seen  on  reference 
to  the  plan,  to  increase  its  size  and  give  it  a  more  open 
effect.  This  arrangement  also  adds  somewhat  to  the 
external  appearance  of  the  design,  at  but  little  addi- 
tional expense,  while  it  is  calculated  to  insure  privacy 
in  a  suburban  house ;  and  in  common  houses  the  no- 
tion is  carried  out  frequently,  in  a  simple  way,  by 
lathing  up  the  ends  of  verandas,  to  prevent  them 
from  being  overlooked  by  next-door  neighbors.  Such 
a  veranda  as  is  here  shown  will  be  almost  as  retired 
as  any  of  the  rooms  inside  the  house. 

Up  stairs  are  three  full-sized  bedrooms,  and  a  small 
bedroom,  or  dressing-room,  a  bath-room,  and  water- 
closet,  a  linen-press,  and  two  servants1  bedrooms,  the 
latter  disconnected  with  the  other  apartments.  This 
arrangement  is  made  with  the  idea  that  the  attics  are 
to  be  left  entirely  unfinished  for  a  time,  the  house  be- 
ing occupied  by  a  small  family;  but  the  plan  has 
been,  from  the  first,  so  arranged  that  three  or  four 
airy,  well-lighted  rooms  can  be  fitted  up  at  any  future 
time,  and  if  this  should  ever  be  done,  the  two  serv- 
ants' rooms  shown  on  chamber  plan  might  be  convert- 
ed to  the  use  of  the  family,  and  the  servants'  rooms 
arranged  above. 

In  the  actual  execution  of  this  design  the  owner 
determined,  during  the  progress  of  the  work,  to  throw 
the  two  small  bedrooms  into  one,  and  to  finish  off  a 
portion  of  the  attic  for  the  use  of  the  servants. 

It  seems  desirable,  in  planning  a  country  house,  to 
locate  the  principal  rooms  in  such  a  manner  that  they 
may  court  the  pleasant  southerly  breezes  in  summer, 
and  the  southerly  and  easterly  sun  in  winter.  In 
some  situations  it  so  happens  that  this  can  not  be 


184 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


done,  except  at  an  entire  sacrifice  of  the  pleasantest 
views,  and  the  general  idea  of  the  plan  in  such  cases 
may  require  to  be  modified  accordingly ;  but  under 
ordinary  circumstances  an  architect  will  so  manage 
matters  that  the  inferior  rooms  and  offices  will  quietly 
slide  into  the  uninviting  north  or  northwest  corner 
of  the  house,  and  thus  occupy  that  portion  of  it  which 
can  best  be  spared  from  the  living-rooms.  There  is, 
however,  a  disadvantage  in  this  natural  arrangement 
which,  if  not  guarded  against,  may  give  trouble,  for 
the  water-fixtures,  being  on  the  north  side  of  the 
house,  may  be  affected  by  a  severe  frost;  but  this 
may  be  avoided  in  several  ways.  One  plan  is  to  keep 
all  the  pipes  on  the  inside  partitions  of  the  house,  and 
to  protect  them  from  any  exposure  by  casing  round 
them,  and  filling  in  with  sawdust  or  other  non-con- 
ducting material.  This  is  all  that  can  be  done  in  a 
house  without  a  furnace,  except  to  carry  the  kitchen 
flue  through  the  cistern ;  but  where  a  furnace  is  used 
the  remedy  is  easy  and  complete.  A  two-inch  tin 
pipe  communicating  with  the  hot-air  chamber  should 
be  carried  up  with  the  water-pipes,  and  after  being 
continued  through  the  bottom  of  the  cistern,  should 
be  coiled  once  round  it  on  the  inside,  and  then  be  left 
with  an  open  outlet  just  above  the  level  of  the  over- 
flow pipe.  If  the  cistern  is  afterward  covered  with  a 
partially  air-tight  lid  the  result  will  be  found  entirely 
satisfactory,  as  it  has  proved  in  the  house  illustrated 
on  page  180,  and  in  others  over  which  I  have  had  the 
control. 

The  roof  of  this  house  is  covered  with  the  purple 
and  green  slate  from  the  Vermont  quarries,  arranged 
in  stripes,  as  shown,  and  the  effect,  as  executed,  is 
very  soft  and  agreeable.    The  cost  was  scarcely  more 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


185 


than  for  a  shingle  roof  of  good  quality,  the  slate  be- 
ing provided  and  put  on  with  mortared  joints  at  $7  50 
a  square.  Circumstances,  however,  were  favorable  in 
this  instance,  and  $8  per  square  is  as  little  as  this  slate 
can  be  generally  laid  for. 

It  will  be  seen  that  a  special  arrangement  is  made 
for  the  carrying  off  of  the  rain-water,  the  pipes  being 
fitted  with  ornamental  heads,  and  connected  with  the 
gutters  by  brackets  brought  down  on  to  the  brick  piers 
at  the  angles.  Some  additional  individuality  is  thus 
given  to  the  external  appearance  of  the  house,  and  at- 
tention is  requested  to  this  part  of  the  design,  as  it  re- 
fers to  a  point  that  is  very  generally  left  unstudied, 
many  designs  being,  in  consequence,  marred  by  an 
awkward,  obtrusive  arrangement,  or  rather  want  of 
arrangement,  of  the  rain-water  pipes. 

The  cost  of  this  house,  including  the  fence  shown 
in  the  vignette,  and  a  moderate-sized  stable  and  coach- 
house, was  as  follows : 


Mason's  work  $1921  02 

Carpenter's  work   3278  71 

Stone-cutter   380  00 

Furnace   20150 

Gas-fitting   85  54 

Plumbing  and  tinning   945  49 

Painting   641  32 

Bell-hanging   46  40 

Architect's  commission  (5  per  cent.)   375  00 

Total  $7874  98 


A  recommendation  by  an  architect  to  his  client  to 
build  a  larger  house  than  he  or  his  family  require  for 
comfort,  would  seem,  at  the  first  glance,  to  be  invari- 
ably bad  advice  to  give  to  a  prudent  person ;  but  ex- 
perience shows  that  it  is  sometimes  the  best  course  to 
pursue.  If,  for  example,  a  gentleman,  whose  require- 
ments are  comparatively  small,  purchases  a  valuable 


186 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


lot  in  the  neighborhood  of  a  thriving  country  town, 
he  will  certainly  damage  the  selling  value  of  his  prop- 
erty by  erecting  on  it  a  house  that  can  not  be  easily 
converted  into  a  tolerably  roomy  family  residence.  It 
is,  therefore,  in  such  a  case,  a  better  investment  for 
him  to  expend  somewhat  more  at  first,  and  arrange  his 
design  so  that  further  accommodation  can,  without 
much  trouble,  be  obtained,  than  to  cut  and  pare  his 
house  down  to  the  exact  measure  of  his  own  imme- 
diate needs,  without  reference  to  its  probable  market 
value.  Some^men  spend,  while  others  spare,  extrav- 
agantly, and  either  habit  is  found  to  be  inconvenient- 
ly unprofitable  in  the  long  run. 


ELEVATION  of.F^NCE. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


187 


DESIGN  No.  11. 

A  NEARLY  SQUARE  SUBURBAN  HOUSE. 

This  design  has  been  executed  in  brick  by  a  gen- 
tleman in  Rondout,  on  a  site  overlooking  an  ample 
stretch  of  the  Hudson  River.  It  contains  about  the 
same  amount  of  room  as  the  design  last  described,  but 


SIDE  ELEVATIOlf. 


FROJST  ELEVATION. 


PLAN  OF  PRINCIPAL  FLOOB. 


CHAMBER  PLAN. 


arranged  in  a  somewhat  different  manner.  The  exte- 
rior outline  is  more  picturesquely  broken,  and  the 
whole  design  is  on  a  somewhat  more  extensive  scale. 
The  smaller  piazza  is  so  arranged  that  it  can  be  readi- 
ly converted  into  a  plant  cabinet  in  winter,  and  a  bay 
window  is  introduced  into  each  of  the  principal  rooms. 
The  cost  of  this  house,  including  painting  and  plumb- 


188  VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 

ing  work,  and  a  coach-house  and  stable  of  liberal  size, 
was  about  ten  thousand  dollars  in  1862. 


The  vignette  illustrates  a  design  carried  into  execu- 
tion in  the  neighborhood  of  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 
The  special  requirement  in  this  case  was  the  introduc- 
tion of  a  parlor  much  larger  than  the  dining-room  or 
library,  into  a  square  house  that  should  have  the  kitch- 
en under  the  same  roof  with  the  rest  of  the  building, 
but  shut  off  from  the  principal  rooms. 


EBINCIP-AL  FLOOR  CHAMBBB  FLOOR 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


189 


DESIGN  No.  12. 

AN  IRREGULAR  HOUSE,  WITHOUT  KITCHEN  WING. 

This  design,  which  is  in  process  of  execution,  was 
prepared  for  a  somewhat  peculiar  site  in  the  vicinity 
of  Springfield,  Mass.  The  ground  descends  rapidly  to 
the  south,  and  the  entrance  to  the  house,  on  account  of 
the  shape  of  the  property  and  the  situation  of  the  ap- 
proach-road, was  of  necessity  made  on  the  north  front. 

Attic  bedrooms  throughout  were  not  desired,  but 


PLAN  OF  PEINCTPAL  FLOOB.  CHAMBER  FLAN. 


190 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


some  accommodation  for  servants  was  needed  over  the 
bedroom  floor. 

The  main  body  of  the  house  is  only  two  stories  high, 
but  the  block  inclosing  the  kitchen  is  really  four  sto- 
ries high,  as  is  shown  in  the  engraving. 


BASEMENT  I>LAN. 


PLAN  OF  PEINCIPAL  FL002. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


193 


DESIGN  No.  13. 

A  WOODEN  VILLA  WITH  TOWER,  AND  WITHOUT  ATTICS. 

This  design  was  prepared  and  executed  for  Mr.  C. 
H.  Rogers,  at  Ravenswood,  Long  Island,  and  as  it 
is  built  on  a  situation  which  commands  a  good  view 
of  the  East  River,  more  or  less  intercepted  from  the 
lower  stories  by  buildings  and  trees,  it  was  thought 
desirable  to  arrange  some  point  of  view  from  the  up- 
per part  of  the  house  which  should  admit  of  the 
whole  extent  of  prospect  being  conveniently  seen.  A 
tower  three  stories  high,  finished  above  with  an  octag- 
onal observatory,  easily  accessible  from  below,  has, 
therefore,  been  included  in  the  design,  as  will  be  seen 
on  the  sketch.  By  this  plan  an  interesting  view  is 
obtained,  clear  of  the  roofs  in  every  direction.  The 
observatory  was  made  of  an  octagonal  form,  with  a 
projecting  balcony  round  it,  so  as  to  reduce  its  per- 


PLAN  OF  CHAMBERS.  PLAN  OF  ROOFS. 


spective  dimensions,  and  give  a  more  light  and  airy 
effect  to  the  upper  part  of  the  design ;  for  if  a  square 
tower  four  full  stories  in  height,  even  though  it  may 

AT 


194 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


be  quite  small  on  plan,  is  grouped  in  connection  with 
a  villa  of  but  moderate  size,  the  probabilities  are  that 
it  will  appear  to  have  an  undue  preponderance  over 
the  other  features,  and  will  thus  compel  the  more 
strictly  domestic  parts  of  the  house  to  seem  of  second- 
ary importance.  This  result  is,  of  course,  undesira- 
ble;  for  although  the  observatory  room  is  intended 
to  be  both  useful  and  ornamental,  it  is  far  less  neces- 
sary to  the  real  comfort  and  enjoyment  of  the  inmates 
than  the  living  rooms  that  are  in  occupation  all  the 
time.  The  lower  story  of  the  tower  is  occupied  as  a 
front  porch,  which  is  connected  with  a  veranda,  and 
communicates  with  an  entrance  hall.  The  angles  of 
this  hall  are  finished  octagonally,  so  as  to  improve  its 
general  effect.  The  drawing-room  is  18x20:6,  and  is 
finished  with  a  large  bay-window  at  one  end.  It  also 
communicates,  through  side  windows,  with  a  semicir- 
cular veranda  and  a  balustraded  terrace  on  the  river 
front.  The  library  opens  from  this  room  and  from 
the  hall.  It  is  furnished  with  recessed  book-cases  and 
a  square  bay,  and,  like  the  drawing-room,  communi- 
cates with  the  veranda  and  terrace.  The  dining-room 
on  the  other  side  of  the  hall  instead  of  a  bay-window 
has  a  conservatory,  or  plant  cabinet,  attached  to  it,  as 
will  be  seen  on  the  plan.  It  is  also  provided  with  a 
roomy  pantry  that  has  closets  and  a  sliding  hatchway 
immediately  connecting  with  the  kitchen.  The  main 
staircase  is  in  a  second  hall,  and  under  the  upper  land- 
ing is  a  large  cloak-closet  and  an  entrance  to  the  gar- 
den. A  little  dressing,  or  lavatory  room,  is  planned 
near  to  this  hall,  and  the  servants'  staircase  and  pas- 
sage-way to  the  offices  connects  with  the  main  build- 
ing at  this  point.  The  kitchen  is  in  a  wing  on  the 
same  level  as  the  other  part  of  the  house,  and  has  a 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


195 


sink-room,  pantry,  and  wood-house  attached.  It  also 
contains  a  small  separate  stairway  to  two  upper  rooms 
for  men-servants. 

This  house  was  built  of  wood  filled  in  with  brick, 
the  principal  rooms  being  provided  with  sliding-shut- 
ters  ;  and  the  carpenter's  and  mason's  work  for  this 
building,  and  a  coach-house,  etc.,  including  painting, 
was  done  for  about  $10,000,  which,  with  architect's 
commission  at  five  per  cent.,  amounted  to  $10,500. 


An  illustration  of  the  river  front  is  shown  above, 
drawn  to  a  somewhat  larger  scale  than  the  perspective 
view,  so  that  the  arrangement  of  gable  and  mode  of 
finish  may  be  intelligible  by  a  reference  to  the  plan  of 
principal  floor  on  previous  page.  The  formal  square 
appearance  it  presents,  compared  with  the  actual  effect 
of  the  villa  in  execution,  or  the  other  illustration  of 
the  same  house  already  given,  will  serve  to  show  how 
incomplete  an  idea  is  likely  to  be  formed  of  an  archi- 
tect's design,  if  it  is  judged  of  from  elevation  only,  and 
yet  it  is  by  no  means  uncommon  to  find  this  mode  of 


196 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


illustration  adopted  in  architectural  works  in  prefer- 
ence to  any  other.  If  a  study  for  a  house  is  proposed 
to  be  so  drawn  out  that  it  may  be  used  by  builders  for 
working  purposes,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  plans, 
elevations,  and  sections  should  be  furnished,  because 
no  measurements  can  be  taken  from  a  perspective 
drawing,  however  neatly  it  may  be  done ;  but  if  the 
study  is  submitted  with  a  view  to  show  what  sort  of 
artistic  effect  may  be  produced,  in  execution,  from  a 
certain  arrangement  of  ground  plan,  nothing  but  a  per- 
spective view  will  convey  an  accurate  idea  to  the  mind ; 
and  as  the  intention  in  this  volume  has  been  to  give 
suggestions,  rather  than  to  supply  cut-and-dried  de- 
signs, the  perspective  mode  of  illustration  has  been  ad- 
hered to  as  much  as  possible. 


The  vignette  shows  a  design  for  a  fence  and  gate 
executed  in  connection  with  the  above  design. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


199 


DESIGN  No.  14. 

(D.  &  V.) 

A  SYMMETRICAL  COUNTRY  PIOUSE. 

This  design  was  prepared  and  executed  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Newburgh,  with  the  exception  of  the  ventilating 
turret,  which  was  a  suggestion  offered  at  the  time  the 
building  was  erected.  This  prominent  feature  has 
not,  however,  yet  been  carried  into  execution,  as  the 
gentleman  for  whom  the  plan  was  prepared  pre- 
ferred to  omit  it ;  still,  it  forms  an  integral  part  of 
the  design,  and  is  introduced  in  the  sketch,  as  the 
composition  appears  to  be  somewhat  incompletely 
represented  without  it.  There  were  some  special  re- 
quirements made  by  the  proprietor  in  this  instance 
that  are,  perhaps,  with  some  readers,  calculated  to 
give  additional  interest  to  this  plan.  The  house  dur- 
ing the  summer  months  was  to  be,  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  a  Southern  house ;  ample  circulation  of  air 


BASEM..ENT  ATTICS  ROOJS 


was  to  be  provided,  with  plenty  of  veranda  space ; 
and  a  cool,  open  arrangement  of  rooms  was  especially 
asked  for,  as  the  house  would  be  required  to  accom- 
modate agreeably  many  residents  and  visitors  during 
the  hot  weather.    On  the  other  hand,  Jhe  plan  was  to 


200 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


be  so  arranged  that  during  the  colder  part  of  the 
year  the  house  should  be  suited  to  the  changed  needs 
of  its  fewer  inmates,  for  it  was  the  intention  of  the 
joroprietor  to  occupy  his  residence  during  the  winter. 
A  completely  fitted  up  and  somewhat  decorative  prin- 
cipal floor  was  also  a  point  of  importance  with  the 
proprietor,  who  did  not  propose  to  expend  any  large 
amount  on  his  house,  and  whose  instructions  were  for 
rooms  of  but  moderate  size,  and  for  a  basement  kitch- 
en, so  as  to  avoid  the  extra  expense  of  a  kitchen  wing, 
In  the  plan  ifrwill  be  observed  that  a  brick  porch,  con- 
necting two  verandas,  and  forming  with  them  one  con- 
tinuous piazza,  opens  on  to  the  principal  hall,  which 
is  14  x  18.  This  hall  communicates,  by  sliding  doors, 
with  the  drawing-room  on  one  side,  and  the  dining- 
room  on  the  other.  Each  of  these  rooms  has  a  bay- 
window  at  the  end  opposite  the  hall  entrance,  and 
thus,  when  the  doors  are  thrown  open  in  summer,  an 
agreeable  vista  effect  is  produced,  and  a  free  circula- 
tion of  air  is  provided  for.  The  upper  end  of  the 
hall  is  traversed  by  a  light,  ornamental,  open,  arched 
screen,  which  is  introduced  so  as  to  give  a  definite 
character  to  a  passage-way,  or  vestibule,  as  shown  on 
the  plan.  Beyond  this  arched  screen  is  an  entrance, 
with  sliding-doors,  to  the  library,  and  at  the  opposite 
end  of  the  latter  room  is  a  large  square  bay-window, 
with  open  screen-work  and  seat  in  connection  with  it. 
Thus  another  extensive  vista  is  obtained  in  summer 
evenings  through  the  house  in  this  direction,  and 
when  the  doors  are  open,  any  one  sitting  in  the  li- 
brary bay  can  see  the  river  view  framed,  as  it  were, 
in  the  outer  arch  of  the  porch.  A  little  boudoir,  or 
ladies1  morning-room,  with  a  private  veranda  entirely 
shaded  during  the  whole  of  the  forenoon,  is  planned 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


201 


close  to  this  library  and  to  the  drawing-room,  and  a 
similar  space  is  inclosed  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
house  for  water-closet  and  pantry,  which  has  a  lift  in 
connection  with  the  floor  below.  It  will  thus  be 
seen,  by  an  inspection  of  the  plan,  that  it  would  hard- 
ly be  possible  to  have  a  more  airy  and  open  arrange- 
ment for  summer ;  for,  standing  in  the  hall  when  the 
rooms  are  thrown  open,  one  can  see  clear  through  the 
house,  north,  south,  east,  and  west;  and  the  porch, 
hall,  vestibule,  library,  dining-room,  drawing-room, 
and  veranda,  are  converted,  as  it  were,4  into  one  con- 
nected apartment.  All  idea  of  the  moderate  size  of 
the  single  rooms,  the  largest  of  which  is  but  18x20, 
is  thus  done  away  with,  and  the  house  necessarily 
seems  roomy,  open,  and  ample  in  its  accommodation. 

So  much  for  the  summer  arrangement.  In  winter, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  first  step  should  be  to  inclose 
the  arches  of  the  porch  with  glazed  frames,  and  the 
next  to  close  the  sliding  doors  for  the  season,  entering 
in  future  each  of  the  separate  rooms  from  the  ordi- 
nary-sized doors  which  are  provided  to  each  of  the 
principal  apartments  for  this  purpose  ;  the  library  be- 
ing approached  through  a  book-case  door,  already  il- 
lustrated and  described  in  the  opening  chapter  (see 
page  90).  The  furnace  may  then  be  started,  and  the 
house  will  be  found  to  be  a  warm  winter  house,  suit- 
ed to  a  severe  climate.  All  the  thorough  draughts  are 
shut  off,  and  the  separate  rooms  are  small,  readily 
warmed,  and  easy  of  access  from  the  chambers.  The 
bedroom  floor  in  this  house  contains  an  upper  hall, 
lighted  by  a  skylight,  four  full-sized  bedrooms,  a  dress- 
ing-room, and  a  bath-room  with  water-closet.  The 
attic  contains  two  spare  bedrooms,  shut  off  entirely 
from  the  apartments  for  domestics  on  the  same  floor, 


202 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


and  it  also  provides  an  open  hall,  two  servants'  bed- 
rooms, a  garret,  and  lumber  room. 

In  the  basement  will  be  found  the  kitchen,  wash- 
room, milk-room,  furnace-room,  and  cellars.  The  car- 
penter s  and  mason's  contracts  for  this  house  were 
taken  at  $7230,  and  the  painter's,  and  plumber's,  and 
decorator's  accounts,  with  some  ornamental  ceilings, 
and  other  carpenter's  work  inside  the  house,  not  con- 
templated in  the  original  contract,  made  the  amount 
expended,  and  on  which  five  per  cent.,  architect's  com- 
mission, was  charged,  $9326  51.  The  stable,  which 
contained  accommodation  for  three  horses,  a  coach- 
house, a  harness-room,  a  coachman's  living  room,  with 
bedroom  over,  and  a  hayloft  in  the  roof,  was  built  of 
brick  for  $1700.  It  is  illustrated  in  the  vignette  below. 


DESIGN  FOK  STABLE,  ETC. 


i 


DESIGN  No.  15.— (V.&W.) 


PLAN  OF  PEINCIPAL  FL00I1. 


VILLAS  and'  cottages.  205 


DESIGN  No.  15. 

(V.  &W.) 

BRICK  VILLA  WITH  TOWER,  AND  WITHOUT  ATTICS. 

The  working  plan  of  this  design  has  been  prepared 
for  Mr.  Walker  Fowler,  of  New  York,  and  the  house 
is  designed  to  be  erected  by  him  on  an  agreeable  site 
at  Limestone  Hill,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Newburgh. 
The  location  has  much  individual  character,  and  the 
whole  property  is  well  adapted  for  a  country  seat. 
Such  a  spot,  however,  is  scarcely  appreciated  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Hudson  River,  for  an  extended  water 
view  is,  under  such  circumstances,  thought  an  all-im- 
portant consideration;  consequently  a  situation  like 
this,  in  which  undulating  hills  intercept  the  river 
view  from  the  lower  rooms,  appears  to  much  less  ad- 
vantage than  it  would  if  it  happened  to  be  in  another 


PLAN   OF  CHAMBERS.  PLAN   OF  ROOFS. 

part  of  the  country  altogether.  The  site  for  the  house 
is  on  an  elevated  space  of  table  land.  On  the  veranda 
front  the  hillside  descends  abruptly  and  picturesquely 
some  sixty  or  eighty  feet  within  full  view  of  the  drive 


206 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


road,  and  as  this  steep  hillside  is  well  covered  with 
healthy  evergreens  and  fine  deciduous  trees,  it  will 
form,  as  it  were,  a  broad  and  handsome  base  for  the 
house,  part  of  which,  especially  the  observatory,  would 
be  visible  from  below.  On  the  other  side  the  forma- 
tion of  the  ground  is  such  that  the  house  will  be  ap- 
proached without  any  sudden  ascent,  as  Nature  has 
kindly  made  ample  preparation  within  the  boundary 
line  of  the  property  for  an  easy  winding  road  up  to 
the  top  of  the  hill.  On  the  south  side  is  a  stretch  of 
fine  woods,  on  the  edge  of  which  is  just  the  spot  for  a 
stable,  and  scattered  here  and  there  among  the  trees 
are  large  boulders  of  stone,  grouped,  by  accident,  three 
and  four  together,  quite  artistically,  and  forming  pleas- 
ant natural  seats  and  nestling-places  for  ferns  and  wild 
flowers.  One  mammoth  boulder,  that  looks  like  a 
sleeping  monster,  some  twenty  or  thirty  feet  long,  has 
been  split  in  a  peculiar  manner  by  a  tree  growing  into 
a  fissure  beneath  it,  and  thus  presents  a  very  curious 
appearance.  Large  stones  like  this  are  often  found 
in  quite  unaccountable  places,  and  it  is  supposed  that 
they  must  have  been  borne  to  the  spot,  and  dropped, 
by  melting  icebergs,  ages  ago.  This  solution,  whether 
true  or  not,  is  certainly  ingenious.  But  to  return  to 
our  more  immediate  business,  which  is  a  description 
of  Mr.  Fowlers  plan.  A  recessed  porch,  large  enough 
to  serve  as  a  morning  veranda,  provides  access  to  the 
principal  hall,  which  is  only  of  small  dimensions,  but 
it  is  provided  with  cloak-closets,  and  contains  the  doors 
to  the  three  principal  apartments,  and  to  the  staircase. 
The  library  is  in  the  lower  story  of  the  tower,  and  the 
design  is  so  arranged  that  this  tower  can  be  omitted 
entirely  when  the  first  contract  is  made,  without  a  dis- 
agreeable appearance  being  the  result ;  and  although 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


207 


the  interior  accommodation  and  the  exterior  effect  of 
the  house  would  be  materially  reduced  under  those 
circumstances,  the  design  would  still  be  fair  and  com- 
plete, and  the  addition  could  be  made  at  any  time. 
A  parlor  and  dining-room  open  on  to  a  veranda. 
Near  the  dining-room  is  a  pantry,  a  garden  entrance, 
and  door  to  the  kitchen,  which  is  in  a  wing  building. 

The  chamber  plan  supplies  four  bedrooms,  and  a 
fifth  in  the  upper  story  of  the  tower,  also  a  bath-room 
and  water-closet,  a  linen-press,  and  two  servants1  bed- 
rooms. The  observatory  is  conveniently  reached  by 
continuing  the  staircase  that  leads  to  tower  bedroom. 
The  roof  is  arranged  as  shown  on  the  plan.  The  in- 
tention in  this  design  is  to  insure,  as  far  as  possible, 
an  irregular  picturesque  effect,  without  any  sacrifice 
of  convenience  or  a  large  outlay  of  money.  As  the 
house  is  to  be  built  on  somewhat  of  a  highland,  it 
seems  undesirable  to  use  an  acute  pitch  for  the  roof, 
for  the  trees  that  surround  the  site  proposed  for  the 
house,  although  vigorous  and  well  shaped,  are  some- 
what scattered,  and  of  no  great  magnitude.  They 
would,  therefore,  scarcely  take  their  proper  share  in 
the  general  composition,  if  the  roof  were  made  too 
prominent  a  feature.  In  designs  like  that  for  Mr. 
Willis's  house,  on  the  other  hand,  the  rear  view  is  so 
enveloped  with  hardy  evergreens,  omitted  for  the  most 
part  in  the  drawings,  that  it  is  preferable  to  use  a 
high-pitched  roof,  as  the  house  would  otherwise  be  in 
a  few  years  entirely  shut  out  from  view.  Considera- 
ble judgment  is  needed  in  settling  on  the  exact  posi- 
tion for  a  house  like  this,  so  as  to  realize  all  the  ad- 
vantages that  the  site  affords.  It  must  not  seem  to 
overhang  the  descent,  or  the  effect  will  be  crowded, 
and  will  give  the  idea  from  the  road  of  a  small,  re- 


208 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


stricted  property.  Neither  should  it  retreat  very  far 
from  the  brow  of  the  hill,  or  the  house  will  be  shut 
out  of  sight,  and  altogether  lost  on  a  tolerably  near 
approach  to  the  premises.  A  happy  medium,  both  in 
the  location  of  the  site  and  in  the  pitch  of  the  roof,  is 
the  desirable  point  to  aim  at  under  such  circumstances. 


The  vignette  shows  a  design  for  an  observatory  to 
be  erected  at  Hillside  Cemetery, Middletown,  N.  Y. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


211 


DESIGN  No.  16. 

A  PICTURESQUE  SYMMETRICAL  HOUSE. 

This  design  was  prepared  and  executed  for  Mr.  W. 
E.  Warren,  of  Newburgh.  It  is  situated  in  Mont- 
gomery Street,  which  is  a  straight  road  running  par- 
allel with  the  river,  at  a  considerable  elevation,  com- 
manding beautiful  views  of  West  Point,  the  High- 
lands, and  the  Hudson.  From  this  level  the  cross- 
streets  descend  with  a  steep  pitch  to  the  shore,  and 
the  building  sites,  in  consequence,  slope  considerably. 


ATTIC  PLAN.  EOOF  PLAN. 


As  Mr.  Warren's  house  was  to  be  built  on  a  corner 
lot,  this  peculiarity  of  position  became  very  conspicu- 
ous, and  required  to  be  considered  with  some  care, 
when  preparing  the  plans,  so  as  to  avoid  a  stilted, 


212 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


disagreeable  effect.  The  entrance  front  of  the  house 
faces  on  Montgomery  Street,  and  is  seen  in  the  ordi- 
nary way  on  a  level  with  the  street.  The  design  is 
therefore  made  with  gables  accordingly.  The  rear, 
on  the  other  hand,  is  conspicuous,  chiefly  from  the 
lower  streets  and  from  the  river ;  and  as  it  provides  a 
basement  story  entirely  out  of  ground,  on  account  of 
the  rapid  descent  of  the  hill,  the  whole  front  is,  in 
consequence,  of  an  altered  proportion,  and  required  a 
different  treatment.  The  roof  in  this  part  of  the  de- 
sign is  hipped  back,  without  gables,  as  will  be  seen  on 
the  lower  view,  and  dormer-windows  are  introduced 
to  give  light  to  the  attic  bedrooms.  The  apparent 
height  of  the  rear  elevation  is  materially  reduced  by 
this  arrangement,  and  the  general  effect  is  altogether 
made  more  easy  than  if  gables  had  been  introduced 
corresponding  with  those  on  the  opposite  side. 

A  recessed  porch  opens  into  a  hall  twelve  feet 
square,  in  which  are  cloak-closets,  and  the  doors  to 
the  principal  apartments  and  staircase.  The  room 
called  study  is  fitted  up  with  wash-stand,  etc.,  in  a 
closet,  so  that  it  may  be  used  as  a  bedroom  or  sick- 
room at  any  time ;  and  the  small  room  by  the  stair- 
case is  well-suited,  and  is  at  present  used  for  a  private 
office  instead  of  a  sleeping  apartment,  as  at  first  pro- 
posed. The  doors  in  the  hall  are  grouped  together, 
with  a  panel  for  a  picture  between  each  pair,  as  shown 
and  described  on  page  88.  There  are  two  parlors  con- 
nected by  sliding  doors,  and  opening  on  to  a  piazza 
twelve  feet  wide.  This  last  feature  of  the  composition 
is  made  very  roomy,  as  it  commands  an  extended  view 
of  the  river,  while  the  ornamental  plot  of  ground  at- 
tached to  the  house  is  but  of  small  dimensions,  and  is 
at  a  much  lower  level.     This  veranda,  therefore,  is 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


213 


sure  to  be  the  chief  summer  resort  of  the  inmates,  and 
is  made  of  large  size,  with  a  balcony  over,  which,  as 
it  faces  east,  is  in  shadow  during  the  evening,  and  af- 
fords an  agreeable  accessory  to  the  bedrooms  connect- 
ing with  it. 

The  chamber  plan  contains  four  bedrooms,  bath- 
room, water-closet,  and  linen-press.  The  attic  provides 
several  spare  rooms,  as  shown.  In  the  basement  is 
the  dining-room,  with  a  door  on  to  the  veranda,  and 
also  a  roomy  kitchen,  with  other  offices.  The  neces- 
sary shown  on  this  plan  is  arranged  as  described  on 
page  47. 

This  house  is  built  with  an  eight-inch  wall  through- 
out, above  the  level  of  water-table,  and  the  beams  are 
supported  on  iron  rests,  as  described  in  the  opening 
chapter.  The  interior  has  been  well  finished  through- 
out under  the  superintendence  of  the  architect,  and  the 
work  was  done  by  the  day,  in  the  best  manner,  and  of 
the  best  materials,  the  cost  being  as  follows;  viz., 


Carpenter's  bill   $ 2,191  08 

Lumber   1,428  58 

Doors   237  45 

Mouldings   40  99 

Bell-hanging   45  00 

Glazing  and  canvas   285  26 

Mason's  bill   2,26G  45 

Brick   426  15 

Cut  stone  and  paving   940  63 

Cartage   88  50 

Iron  castings   54  23 

Tinner's  work  and  plumbing   1,184  37 

Gas-fitting   75  21 

Painting  :   895  23 

Furnace   204  78 

Mantles   614  50* 

Architect's  commission  (5  per  cent.)   569  88 

Total   $11,967  60 


The  masons  bill  in  a  contract  often  covers  the  tin- 
ner's work  in  connection  with  leaders,  which  is  not 


214 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


here  charged  to  him,  as  that  and  the  plumbing  were 
in  one  account.  The  bill  for  paving,  on  the  other 
hand,  includes  considerable  work  that  would  scarcely 
belong  to  a  mason's  contract.  The  cost  of  grates  and 
range  is  not  taken  into  the  account. 

The  particulars  furnished  above  may  be  of  some  in- 
terest to  any  one  about  building  such  a  house,  as  they 
show  the  relative  amounts  of  the  various  bills ;  but 
there  is  so  much  variety  in  the  style  and  consequent 
expense  of  interior  comforts,  appliances,  and  finish, 
that  a  detailed  estimate  of  this  sort  is  not  so  valuable 
as  might  at  first  be  supposed. 


The  vignette  shows  a  plan  adopted  for  laying  out 
the  grounds.  By  this  plan  two  entrances  are  planned 
on  Montgomery  Street,  and  one  on  the  side-hill,  while 
a  space  large  enough  for  a  cart  to  get  to  the  garden 
with  manure,  etc.,  is  arranged  on  the  left  hand  side. 
A  piece  of  ground  of  this  size  should  not  at  any  time 
be  filled  with  very  large  trees,  for  flowering  shrubs, 
evergreens,  and  a  few  fruit  trees  would  be  all  sufficient. 


DESIGN  No.  17. 


SOUTH-EAST  VIEW  AS  ALTERED. 


SOUTH-EAST  VIEW  I5EFOKE  ALTERATION. 


NORTn-WEST  VIEW  AS  ALTERED. 


/ 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES.  217 


DESIGN  No.  17. 

ALTERATION  OF  OLD  HOUSE. 

This  design,  which  is  for  alterations  and  additions 
to  the  residence  of  Mr.  Thomas  Powell,  of  Newburgh, 
was  planned  some  few  years  ago  from  the  instructions 
of  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Ramsdell,  the  president  of  that 
gigantic  American  fact,  the  Erie  Railroad,  and  it  is 
selected  for  illustrating  this  part  of  our  subject  from 
several  studies  for  alterations,  executed  from  time  to 
time  in  the  same  neighborhood  and  elsewhere,  because 
it  seems  to  show  with  clearness  the  leading  points 
that  require  attention  in  such  improvements.  There 
are  to  be  found  in  different  parts  of  the  country  many 
families  who  have  been  settled  for  several  generations 
on  the  same  spot,  and  their  old,  simple  wooden  home- 
steads, mended  and  patched  every  few  years,  hold  their 
own  with  commendable  pertinacity.  They  have  no 
idea  of  falling  to  pieces,  and  are  altogether  too  solid 
and  substantial  to  be  pulled  down.  Now  this  qual- 
ity of  durability  is,  of  course,  in  the  abstract,  an  ex- 
cellent virtue  for  a  house  to  possess ;  but  it  must  be 
confessed  that,  in  such  very  awkward  and  ungainly 
structures  as  often  fall  to  the  lot  of  these  well-settled 
families,  its  presence  could  be  cheerfully  dispensed 
with,  were  it  not  for  the  many  interesting  associa- 
tions and  family  reminiscences  that  linger  round  the 
old  house,  which  has  been,  perhaps,  the  home  of  the 
fathers  and  grandfathers  childhood.  These  associa- 
tions are  so  valuable,  and  so  little  fostered  by  the  or- 
dinary course  of  events  in  American  families,  that  they 


218 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


deserve  to  be  cherished  in  every  possible  way ;  and  it 
may  therefore,  now  and  then,  be  more  wise  to  do  the 
best  that  can  be  done  with  an  old  house,  even  at  some 
sacrifice  of  external  completeness  of  design  and  inter- 
nal convenience,  than  to  demolish  it  entirely  and  build 
anew  from  the  foundations  on  a  better  plan.  It  does 
not  often  occur  that  a  design  can  be  altered  so  as  to 
be  entirely  satisfactory;  but  much  may  be  done  to 
compromise  matters  without  an  uneconomical  expend- 
iture. The  error  generally  fallen  into  in  such  cases 
may  be  thus  described :  Alterations  are  commenced 
without  any  very  definite  idea  as  to  where  they  will 
end.  One  thing  is  done  after  another ;  partitions  are 
pulled  down,  floors  taken  up,  ceilings  heightened,  new 
windows  and  doors  inserted,  till  the  house  is  a  com- 
plete labyrinth  of  mixed-up  work,  the  clew  to  which 
is  wholly  un discoverable  by  either  proprietor  or  me- 
chanic, and  the  natural  result  is,  that,  after  many  mis- 
takes, and  a  severe  trial  of  the  patience  of  the  owner, 
the  workmen  get  through  somehow,  and  are  paid  up 
and  dismissed,  while  the  house,  although  somewhat 
more  convenient,  is  almost  as  ugly  as  before,  and  the 
proceeding,  from  first  to  last,  has  cost  four  or  five 
times  as  much  as  the  proprietor  had  an  idea  of  lay- 
ing out  on  it.  This  question  should  always  be  asked 
and  answered  fairly  before  commencing  operations, 
viz.,  Is  the  house  worth  altering  at  all?  Sometimes 
it  is  not.  The  frame  may  be  decayed,  the  sills  rotten, 
the  floors  out  of  level,  the  ceilings  altogether  too  low 
for  comfort ;  and  as  points  like  these  can  not  gener- 
ally be  meddled  with  economically,  it  seems  useless 
under  such  circumstances  to  spend  much  money  on 
alterations  and  additions.  If,  on  the  contrary,  the 
house  is  in  a  sound,  substantial  condition,  and  has  no 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


219 


radical  defect  of  interior  arrangement  that  must  al- 
ways make  it  an  objectionable  residence,  it  becomes 
worth  while  to  consider  hoiv  much  alteration  and  ad- 
dition the  house  will  bear  profitably,  and  the  whole 
plan  and  intention,  from  first  to  last,  of  the  work  to 
be  done,  needs  to  be  studied  and  determined  on  be- 
forehand more  exactly  and  minutely  than  would  be 
required  for  a  new  design  altogether,  for  each  part 
must  be,  as  it  were,  dovetailed  into  the  other,  so  as 
to  get  the  advantage  aimed  at  without  awkwardness 
of  appearance  or  undue  sacrifice  of  the  work  already 
in  existence.  The  fact  is,  that  altogether  too  much  is 
generally  attempted.  The  best  way  is  to  do  as  little 
as  possible  beyond  obtaining  the  leading  features  of 
arrangement  and  appearance  that  the  alteration  or 
addition  is  designed  to  procure.  I  remember  once  be- 
ing called  upon  to  pay  a  professional  visit  to  a  gen- 
tleman who  wished  to  alter  his  house,  which  was  a 
wooden  one.  I  examined  it,  and  found  it  had  many 
serious  defects,  and  advised  him  not  to  spend  a  cent 
upon  it,  but,  if  he  was  dissatisfied  with  the  accom- 
modation it  afforded,  to  sell  his  present  house  and 
lot,  purchase  a  fresh  piece  of  ground,  and  start  anew. 
He  wanted  to  heighten  all  the  ceilings  to  begin  with, 
a  process  which  would,  of  course,  throw  every  door, 
and  window,  and  beam  out  of  position.  Then  the 
doors  and  windows  must  be  made  larger,  and  the 
frame  must  be  new-sided,  and  the  roof  new-shingled, 
so  that  it  became  evident  that  what  was  really  want- 
ed was  the  old  knife  with  the  simple  addition  of  a 
new  handle  and  new  blades.  My  advice  seemed  to  be 
somewhat  unsatisfactory  to  the  proprietor,  who  evi- 
dently expected  some  encouragement,  and  perhaps  an 
alteration  was  ultimately  made ;  if  so,  I  am  certain 


220 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


that  the  result  must  have  been  even  more  unsatisfac- 
tory than  the  advice.  In  Mr.  Powell's  house  the 
whole  construction  was  in  good  preservation,  and  the 
addition  shown  on  the  sketch  of  the  unaltered  house 
had  been  executed  substantially  some  years  ago  for 
the  sake  of  the  room  it  contained,  without  reference 
to  its  effect  on  the  external  appearance  of  the  de- 
sign ;  and  the  chimney  of  this  wing  being  below  the 
other  roofs,  a  large  cowl  was  required  to  prevent  the 
chimney  from  smoking.  All  that  was  wanted  in  the 
way  of  interior  enlargement  was  a  study  with  bed- 
*.  room  over,  which  I  planned  in  a  square  projection  at 
the  rear  of  the  house,  as  shown  on  the  lower  view, 
and  an  enlargement  of  the  parlor,  which  was  arrived 
at  by  a  square  projection  in  front  of  the  depth  of  the 
veranda,  shown  on  the  upper  view,  the  old  wall  above 
the  level  of  parlor  ceiling  being  carried  on  iron  sus- 
pension rods.  Some  of  the  windows  and  doors  were 
shifted  along  a  foot  or  two  one  way  or  the  other,  so 
as  to  bring  the  arrangement  of  openings  into  a  form 
that  would  admit  of  proper  treatment  on  the  exterior. 
Small  alterations,  also,  were  made  here  and  there  to 
improve  the  internal  convenience  of  the  plan ;  but 
still  nothing  was  done  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  ren- 
der it  necessary  for  the  family  to  leave  the  premises, 
even  for  a  day,  and  the  house  was  more  or  less  occu- 
pied during  the  whole  period  required  for  the  execu- 
tion of  the  improvements.  The  chief  alteration  was 
made  by  taking  a  slice  off  the  top  of  the  original  stiff 
old  roof,  and  then  bringing  up  the  flat  roof  of  the 
wing  to  the  new  ridge  level.  The  smoky  chimney 
was  thus  carried  out  at  a  proper  elevation,  and  the 
whole  appearance  of  the  exterior  of  the  house  was 
by  this  means  much  enlarged ;  two  of  the  other  chim- 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


221 


neys,  after  being  taken  down  as  far  as  was  necessary, 
and  tied  together  with  an  iron  band,  were  arched  over 
in  the  garret,  and  grouped  above  the  ridge  into  one 
double  stack,  as  shown  on  the  upper  view.  The  roof 
was  projected  all  round,  and  fitted  with  brackets. 
The  ventilator  was  placed  where  shown,  hoods  were 
arranged  over  a  few  of  the  windows,  the  verandas 
were  somewhat  improved,  and  the  addition  of  a  plant 
cabinet  to  the  library  completed  the  work  as  far  as 
carpenters  and  masons  were  concerned.  Both  new 
and  old  parts  were  then  painted  and  sanded  in  quiet, 
neutral  tints,  so  that  all  appearance  of  alteration  was 
at  once  avoided.  Thus  it  will  be  perceived  that, 
without  much  tearing  to  pieces,  a  new  character  may 
be  given  to  a  house,  if  it  is  only  well  built  at  first; 
and  this  design  is  a  proof  that  such  a  result  may  be 
gained  at  a  cost  that  shall  not  be  unsatisfactory  to 
the  proprietor,  for  on  making  some  inquiries  for  the 
purpose  of  this  work  from  Mr.  Ramsdell  some  years 
after  the  house  was  altered,  I  received  from  him  a  let- 
ter which  touches  on  this  point  among  others,  and 
which  I  take  the  opportunity  of  introducing  here : 

"  Office  of  the  New  York  and  Erie  Railroad  Company, 
"New  York,  September  2ith,  1855. 

"Dear  Sir, — You  are  quite  at  liberty  to  introduce 
the  design  made  for  remodeling  our  homestead  into 
your  proposed  work.  I  do  not  know  how  far  a  sin- 
gle instance  of  this  sort  is  calculated  to  bear  on  the 
general  subject  of  altering  old  houses,  but  our  own  ex- 
perience is  certainly  satisfactory.  We  have  now  an 
agreeable  arrangement  of  rooms,  with  all  the  minor 
conveniences  that  so  materially  help  to  make  a  coun- 
try house  enjoyable,  and  should  be  unwilling  to  undo 
any  thing  that  has  been  done.    The  exterior  of  the 


222 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


house,  which,  I  think,  looks  better  than  in  your  en- 
graving, suits  us  very  well,  and,  I  dare  say,  may  serve 
to  show  how  much  can  be  done  in  the  way  of  altera- 
tion by  very  simple  means.  I  can  not  readily  give 
you  the  particulars  of  cost  you  ask  for,  as  no  contract 
was  made,  and  the  accounts  include  much  other  work 
that  was  being  executed  by  our  mechanics  at  the  same 
time,  but  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  the  gen- 
eral result  is  well  worth  the  outlay  incurred.  The 
most  important  part  that  I  feel  to  be  gained  is,  that, 
with  all  its  alterations,  it  is  still  the  old  homestead  of 
the  family  (my  father-in-law,  Thomas  Powell,  Esq., 
has  resided  there  for  nearly  fifty  years),  and  we  are 
thus  enabled,  without  any  sacrifice  of  enjoyment,  to 
retain  the  pleasant  associations  that  are  connected 
with  a  home  that  has  been  in  the  family  for  so  great 
a  length  of  time. 

"  Very  truly  yours,  etc., 

"Homer  Ramsdell. 


The  vignette  shows  a  method  of  altering  a  common 
and  awkward  looking  form  of  cottage  roof  that  is  very 
easy  of  execution,  and  has  been  found,  in  practice,  to 
add  much  to  the  light  and  shade,  and  general  pictur- 
esque character  of  an  old  house. 


STUDY  FOE  COTTAGE  EOOF  ALTEEATION. 


DESIGN  No.  18.— (D.  &  V.) 


PJ.AN   OF. PRINCIPAL  FLOOR  PLAN  OF  CHAMBERS 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


225 


DESIGN  No.  18. 

(D.  &  V.) 

PICTURESQUE  SQUARE  HOUSE. 

This  house,  which  now  belongs  to  a  gentleman  re- 
siding in  Newburgh,  was  planned  for  another  party 
in  the  first  instance,  and  was  partly  executed  with  the 
idea  that  it  was  to  be  very  simply  and  economically 
finished.  It  was  commenced  without  any  intention 
of  constructing  the  dormer-windows,  the  projecting 
hoods,  or  the  covered  balcony  over  the  lower  bay,  all 
of  which,  as  may  be  seen  on  reference  to  the  sketch, 
help  materially  to  give  individuality  and  completeness 
to  the  design.  The  main  outline  of  the  plan  is  a  sim- 
ple parallelogram,  without  any  break  in  the  walls,  and 
the  study  may,  therefore,  be  interesting  to  those  who 
like  a  generally  picturesque  effect  in  a  house,  but  who 
wish  to  avoid  irregularities  in  the  internal  arrange- 


PLAN  OF  ATTICS  P  LA  N    OF  ROOFS 


ment,  or  uneconomical  projections  in  carrying  up  the 
brick-work.  During  the  progress  of  the  work  the 
building  changed  hands,  and  came  into  the  possession 
of  its  second  owner,  Mr.  D.  Moore,  and  in  accordance 
with  his  instructions  the  design  was  improved  in  many 

P 


226 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


important  points.  The  additions  already  referred  to 
were  made,  another  bay-window  was  introduced,  the 
roof  to  the  veranda,  also,  was  curved,  and  finished 
with  a  balustrade. 

The  plan  may  be  thus  described:  An  inclosed  wood- 
en porch,  shown  to  a  larger  scale  at  page  72,  leads 
into  the  principal  hall,  which  is  paved  with  red,  black, 
and  buff  encaustic  tiles  in  a  simple  but  effective  star 
pattern.  This  hall  communicates  with  the  library, 
which  is  a  handsomely-finished  room,  containing  two 
book-cases  recessed  in  the  walls  on  one  side,  and  a 
third  arranged  between  the  windows  on  the  other 
side.  The  architrave  mouldings  of  the  doors,  win- 
dows, and  book-cases  being  boldly  relieved,  and  so  ar- 
ranged that  they  may  group  together  in  several  dif- 
ferent combinations.  The  drawing-room  extends  the 
whole  length  of  the  house.  The  southern  part  was 
originally  proposed  for  a  bedroom,  but  when  the  prop- 
erty came  into  Mr.  Moore's  possession  it  was  connect- 
ed with  the  parlor  by  an  ornamental  wooden  arch, 
without  folding  doors.  From  this  drawing-room  the 
windows  open  on  to  a  wide,  spacious  veranda,  com- 
manding an  extensive  view  of  the  Hudson.  In  the 
staircase  hall  is  a  garden  entrance,  and  a  door  to  a 
small  private  room  or  office.  The  dining-room  is  in 
the  basement,  but  the  ground  falls  off  so  rapidly  that 
the  side  of  the  room  which  looks  out  on  to  the  orna- 
mental garden,  and  the  river  beyond,  is  entirely  out 
of  ground,  and  communicates  with  a  brick  piazza  sup- 
porting the  veranda  above.  It  has  not,  however,  been 
thought  necessary  to  give  a  separate  plan  of  this  floor, 
which  contains  kitchen  and  other  offices,  cellar,  vaults, 
and  furnace-room.  Conveniently  situated  underneath 
the  pavement  of  side-entrance  is  an  outhouse  and  nec- 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


227 


essary,  approached  from  the  basement  through  a  vine- 
covered  veranda  passage,  and  arranged  on  a  similar 
plan  to  that  already  described  in  the  opening  chapter, 
and  in  the  description  of  Mr.  Warren's  house.  Mr. 
Moore's  house  was,  however,  the  first  in  which  this 
plan  was  tried,  and  it  was  while  endeavoring  to  over- 
come the  difficulties  suggested  by  his  needs  that  the 
idea  occurred  to  me.  The  filling  up  and  grading 
about  the  house  was  thus  made  more  satisfactory,  and 
the  outbuildings  were  entirely  concealed  from  view, 
which  could  not,  in  any  reasonable  time,  have  been 
done  by  trees  or  evergreens  on  account  of  the  contin- 
uous fall  in  the  ground,  which  made  it  necessary  that 
the  principal  rooms  and  veranda  should  look  down 
on  to  the  lawns  and  garden  ground  surrounding  the 
house. 

The  chamber  plan  will  be  found  to  contain  four 
bedrooms,  with  a  linen-room,  bath-room,  and  water- 
closet,  all  easy  of  access,  but  planned  with  a  special 
regard  to  privacy.  An  open  and  airy  stairway  to  the 
attic  leads  into  a  roomy,  well-lighted  upper  hall,  com- 
municating with  four  large  bedrooms  and  a  store- 
room. Above  this  again  is  a  well-ventilated  garret 
four  or  five  feet  high,  that  affords  convenient  stowage 
for  trunks,  and  furnishes  a  complete  shield  from  the 
heat  and  cold.  The  attic  rooms  in  this  house  are  as 
convenient,  and  almost  as  agreeable,  as  the  principal 
bedchambers  below  them  ;  and  as  they  naturally  com- 
mand a  more  extensive  view  than  can  be  obtained 
from  the  rest  of  the  house,  they  have  this  one  great 
advantage  over  the  other  rooms.  A  reference  to  the 
plan  of  roofs  will  show  how,  by  the  arrangement  of 
the  flat  on  the  top,  the  whole  composition  is  simply 
treated,  so  as  to  offer  as  little  resting-place  as  possible 


228 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


for  the  snow  where  it  is  likely  to  do  any  harm.  This 
house  is  painted  in  soft,  quiet  tints.  The  walls  are 
very  light  buff,  with  a  tinge  of  green  in  it,  that,  al- 
though scarcely  noticeable,  materially  improves  the 
general  effect,  as  it  makes  the  contrast  between  the 
house  and  its  surroundings  less  decided.  The  wood- 
work is  in  various  shades  of  brown.  I  feel,  however, 
that  it  is  useless  for  me  to  attempt,  by  words,  to  con- 
vey an  accurate  idea  of  any  delicate  effects  of  color 
that  may  be  used  with  advantage  in  rural  architect- 
ure. One  might  as  well  try  to  describe  an  Irish  mel- 
ody or  a  fantasia  on  the  violin.  All  varieties  of  form 
may  be  explained,  to  a  considerable  extent,  by  simple 
diagrams  and  descriptions,  but  minute  refinements  in 
color  refuse  to  be  penned  down,  and  must  be  seen  to 
be  understood  and  appreciated.  This  house,  which 
was  built  by  the  day,  and  under  the  superintendence 
of  the  architect,  from  the  time  it  came  into  Mr. 
Moore's  possession,  has  been  very  carefully  and  com- 
pletely fitted  up  throughout  with  all  the  modern  im- 
provements of  gas,  water,  speaking-tubes,  furnace,  and 
ventilators,  under  the  direction  and  instructions  of  the 
proprietor,  who  took  a  personal  and  constantly  active 
interest  in  the  work  from  the  time  he  commenced  his 
improvements  till  the  whole  was  completed  to  his  sat- 
isfaction ;  and  it  affords  a  fair  example  of  what  may 
be  done  in  this  style  with  a  simple,  straightforward 
plan,  although  it  is  difficult  in  so  small  a  drawing  to 
convey  any  very  complete  idea  of  its  actual  effect, 
which  depends  a  good  deal  on  the  care  bestowed  in 
working  out  the  details. 

In  this  case  the  locality  in  which  the  house  was 
built  had  already  been  provided  with  gas-works,  and 
the  pipes  were  therefore  introduced  as  a  matter  of 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


229 


course.    But  in  a  majority  of  the  situations  in  which 
country  houses  are  built  there  are  no  gas-works  at 
hand,  and  no  likelihood  of  any  being  erected.    It  is, 
however,  in  any  plan  of  moderate  size,  well  worth 
while  to  introduce  the  pipes,  as  the  expense  is  small, 
and  the  improvements  that  are  constantly  taking  place 
in  the  machines  invented  for  making  gas  on  a  small 
scale  for  home  consumption,  lead  us  to  hope  that  ere 
long  it  may  be  both  easy  and  economical  to  light  a 
single  house  in  this  way  with  some  simple  apparatus 
that  can  be  put  up  and  readily  attended  to  on  the 
premises.    This  is,  indeed,  already  done  to  a  greater 
extent  than  may,  perhaps,  be  supposed.    When  put- 
ting in  the  pipes  it  is,  of  course,  necessary  to  prepare 
a  notch  in  the  beams  to  receive  them;  and  unless 
proper  care  is  taken  this  notch  will,  in  many  cases,  be 
made  by  cutting  an  inch  or  more  out  of  the  very  mid- 
dle of  the  upper  edge  of  each  of  the  beams  that  occur 
between  the  side  of  the  room  and  its  centre  (where 
the  chandelier  is  suspended),  although  this  plan  is  the 
most  foolish  that  can  be  adopted,  as  it  weakens  the 
beam  at  the  most  important  point  merely  to  save  a 
few  feet  of  pipe  and  a  little  trouble  on  the  part  of  the 
gas-fitter.     The  pipes  should  always  be  so  planned 
that  the  notch,  or  recess,  may  be  cut  into  the  beam 
not  more  than  a  foot  from  the  wall,  where  it  will  do 
no  harm,  and  the  connection  to  the  centre  of  the  room 
should  invariably  be  made  between  the  beams,  and  not 
across  them. 

The  architect's  commission  for  Mr.  Moore's  house 
was  calculated  on  $12,000,  which  was  about  the  cost 
without  mantles,  range,  and  grates.  Sixty  dollars  was 
also  charged  for  laying  out  the  grounds,  and  the  gar- 
den plan  adopted  may  be  gathered  from  the  vignette 


230 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


below.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  house  appears  to  be 
considerably  on  one  side  of  the  lot.  This  occurred 
from  necessity,  originally,  as  the  foundation  was  com- 
menced on  a  piece  of  ground  only  half  the  size  finally 
occupied;  but  the  effect  is,  in  execution,  quite  satis- 
factory, and  it  does  not  now  appear  at  all  desirable 
that  the  house  should  have  been  planned  on  the  cen- 
tre of  the  lot  on  which  it  at  present  stands,  for  the 
ornamental  garden  shows  to  good  advantage,  and  the 
stretches  of  open  lawns  that  are  rendered  possible  by 
placing  the  house  on  one  side  have  a  much  better  ef- 
fect than  small  plots  intersected  by  gravel  walks.  On 
the  grass  in  front  of  the  house  a  pretty  fountain  is  in- 
troduced, and  the  gates  are  made  somewhat  ornament- 
al. The  principal  entrance  gate  is  shown  on  page  286, 
and  the  side  gate  is  sketched  on  one  of  the  outside 
pages  at  the  commencement  of  the  present  edition. 


DESIGN  No.  19.— (D.  &  V.) 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES.  233 


DESIGN  No.  19. 

(D.  &  V.) 

SUBURBAN  VILLA. 

This  study  for  a  villa  residence  illustrates  two  va- 
rieties of  the  same  leading  idea  of  plan  and  elevation 
that  were  executed  some  years  ago  in  Georgetown, 
Dist.  Col.  The  upper  one  was  prepared  for  Mr.  E. 
P.  Dodge,  and  the  lower  one  for  Mr.  F.  Dodge. 
These  gentlemen  commenced  their  houses  about  the 


PLAN    0[  CHAMBERS 


PLAN    OF  CHAMBERS 


same  time,  and  each  desired  to  obtain  the  particular 
distribution  of  the  rooms  shown  on  the  plan,  and 
wished  for  a  general  similarity  in  the  two  designs,  al- 
though the  situations  on  which  the  buildings  were  to 
be  erected  differed  somewhat  in  their  local  require- 
ments. By  reversing  the  plan,  and  altering  the  posi- 
tion of  the  library,  the  necessary  change  was  made,  and 
the  details  also  were  varied  as  much  as  possible,  the 
windows  in  one  design  being  square,  and  covered  by 
projecting  wooden  hoods,  while  in  the  other  they  were 
made  with  circular  heads  and  stone  label  mouldings. 
Minor  modifications  were  also  introduced  throughout 


234 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


the  whole  of  the  exterior  and  interior ;  and  thus,  al- 
though these  two  houses  have  their  principal  features 
in  common,  neither  is  a  servile  imitation  of  the  other. 
The  plan  of  principal  floor  shows  a  porch  that  occu- 
pies the  lower  story  of  a  tower,  and  forms  a  continu- 
ation to  veranda  on  the  principal  front.  The  main 
hall,  lighted  from  this  porch,  is  of  liberal  dimensions, 
and  leads  to  a  drawing-room  that  is  provided  with 
windows  opening  on  to  the  front  veranda,  and  with  a 
handsome  bay  at  the  farther  end.  There  is  also  a 
means  of  access  from  this  room  to  a  more  retired  piaz- 
za, or  ombra,  on  the  other  side  of  the  house.  The 
dining-room,  which  communicates  with  the  ombra,  is, 
as  shown,  entered  from  this  parlor  as  well  as  from 
the  outer  hall,  and  has  a  large  pantry,  or  service-room, 
attached.  Another  door  leads  to  the  staircases  and 
garden  entrance ;  and  as  the  library  is  also  furnished 
with  a  second  door,  all  the  principal  rooms  can  be 
reached,  as  may  be  seen  on  reference  to  the  plan,  from 
the  upper  floor,  without  its  being  necessary  to  trav- 
erse the  principal  hall.  An  arrangement  of  this  sort 
is  calculated  to  add  much  to  the  privacy  of  the  in- 
mates of  any  country  house,  and  is  well  worth  secur- 
ing when  it  can  be  obtained,  as  in  the  present  case, 
without  sacrifice  of  convenience  in  other  respects.  An 
easy,  well-lighted  principal  staircase  is  provided,  and 
a  separate  flight  for  the  domestics.  This  latter  com- 
municates with  the  kitchen  and  offices,  which  are 
planned,  according  to  instructions,  in  the  basement. 
On  the  second  floor  will  be  found  one  large  bedroom, 
with  a  dressing-room  attached,  three  other  roomy 
chambers,  one  smaller  bedroom,  and  a  bath-room,  wa- 
ter-closet, and  linen-press.  Another  pleasant  spare 
room  in  the  upper  part  of  the  tower  is  reached  by 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


235 


continuing  the  private  staircase  into  the  attic,  which 
affords  a  large  open  garret  space,  lighted  from  the  ga- 
bles. When  these  houses  were  first  planned  it  seemed 
to  be  the  intention  of  both  proprietors  to  carry  them 
out  in  a  very  simple  and  economical  way ;  and  as  the 
season  was  a  good  one  for  building,  it  was  roughly  cal- 
culated that  they  might  cost  about  $8000  or  $9000. 
Such  a  plan,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  and  with 
a  perfectly  plain  finish,  might  now  be  fairly  executed 
for  $10,000,  but  not  in  the  thoroughly  complete  and 
handsome  style  that  was  ultimately  adopted  by  Messrs. 
Dodge,  who  were  led  to  introduce,  as  the  work  pro- 
ceeded, a  good  deal  of  cut  stone  into  the  exterior  de- 
tails of  the  design,  and  who  appear  to  have  spared  no 
expense,  either  in  labor  or  materials,  to  develop  the 
whole  idea  of  the  plan  in  an  entirely  satisfactory  man- 
ner. As  the  distance  from  Newburgh  was  so  great, 
the  works  were  not  superintended  by  the  architects, 
and  I  therefore  wrote  to  Mr.  F.  Dodge,  when  contem- 
plating the  publication  of  this  work,  and  requested 
him  to  furnish  me,  if  possible,  with  some  particulars 
as  to  the  actual  cost  of  these  houses,  and  also  with 
any  suggestions  for  improvement  that  had  occurred 
to  him  after  a  year  or  two's  personal  occupation  of 
his  own  residence.    In  his  reply  he  says, 

"I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  31st  ult.,  and 
will  comply  with  pleasure  with  your  request.  The 
plans  are  with  our  builders.  I  will  get  them,  and 
send  by  express  or  mail  in  a  day  or  two ;  I  mean  my 
brother's  as  well  as  mine.  We  find  the  cost  of  our 
houses  to  be  much  beyond  what  Mr.  Downing  led  us 
to  expect — say  about  $15,000  each ;  yet  we  have  fine 
houses,  and  very  comfortable  and  satisfactory  in  every 
respect." 


236 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


The  vignette  gives  a  slight  sketch  of  an  oak  mantle- 
piece,  introduced  into  a  design  for  a  dining-room,  ex- 
ecuted at  Fishkill  Landing.  It  required  to  be  simply 
planned,  so  that  it  could  be  easily  executed  in  the 
country  by  a  clever  carpenter. 


DESIGN  FOB  OAK  MANTLE-PIECE. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


239 


DESIGN  No.  20. 

(D.  &  V.) 

VILLA  RESIDENCE  WITH  CURVED  ROOF. 

This  design  was  prepared  for  an  agreeable  site  In 
the  vicinity  of  Newburgh.  The  accommodation  pro- 
posed consists  of  a  recessed  porch  opening  on  to  a  hall 
eighteen  feet  square,  on  one  side  of  which  is  a  hand- 
some morning -room  isolated  from  the  other  apart- 
ments. There  is  also  a  drawing-room,  a  library,  and  a 
dining-room,  so  arranged  as  to  form  a  suite  of  three 
principal  rooms,  all  connected  together  by  doors,  but 
at  the  same  time  furnished  with  separate  entrances 
from  the  main  hall.  These  three  rooms  face  south, 
which  is  the  pleasantest  aspect  in  the  Highlands  ;  and 
as  they  command  in  this  direction  a  remarkably  fine 
view  over  the  Hudson,  which  adds  much  to  the  value 
of  the  site,  each  is  provided  with  a  large  bay  and  win- 
dow seat,  placed  so  as  to  overlook  the  river.  Both  the 
parlor  and  morning-room  open  on  to  a  large  veranda, 
and  the  dining-room  is  connected  with  a  more  retired 
piazza,  as  shown  on  the  plan.  A  large  pantry  is  pro- 
vided close  to  the  dining-room  and  servants'  staircase, 
while  a  private  office  and  water-closet  are  arranged 
near  the  garden  entrance.  An  ample  kitchen,  with  all 
other  necessary  offices  attached,  is  provided  in  the  base- 
ment, and  a  convenient  chamber  plan  and  attic  are  in- 
cluded in  the  design ;  but  it  has  not  been  thought  nec- 
essary to  give  here  more  than  the  general  view,  and 
the  disposition  of  rooms  on  the  first  floor. 


240 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


The  design  illustrated  below  has  been  executed  near 
West  Point,  on  the  Hudson.  In  accordance  with  in- 
structions, a  veranda  was  carried  all  round  the  princi- 
pal suite  of  rooms,  and  was  so  arranged  as  to  connect 
with  the  entrance  porch.  The  octagonal  projection 
faces  south,  and  commands  an  extensive  view  of  the 
river. 


i 

FEESPECTIV K  VIEW. 


The  vignette  shows  a  sketch  of  a  stable  and  coach- 
house, with  cattle  stable  in  the  basement,  proposed  to 
be  erected  in  Westchester  County,  New  York.    It  has 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


241 


no  very  fanciful  features,  and  is  not  expensively  con- 
structed, but  is  given  here  as  a  carefully-studied  de- 
sign for  a  simple,  straightforward,  roomy  country 
barn  that  need  not  be  ashamed  to  take  its  proper 
place  in  a  home  landscape.  It  is  always  disagreeable 
to  see  such  a  building,  if  injudiciously  located,  where  it 
will  be  in  the  way  of  the  view  from  the  house,  or  have 
an  awkward  appearance  from  the  road,  or  be  incon- 
venient of  access,  or  be  so  prominent  that  it  attracts 
an  undue  share  of  attention.  But,  on  the  other  hand, 
it  is  very  agreeable  to  catch  a  view  of  the  inferior 
buildings  belonging  to  a  rural  home  whenever  they 
happen  to  be  picturesquely  designed,  and  grouped 
with  a  due  regard  to  retirement  among  the  trees  sur- 
rounding the  house.  A  clever  and  amusing  chapter 
about  "Barns11  was  written  some  little  time  ago  for 
Putnani's  Magazine,  and  the  ideas  are  presented  in  a 
manner  so  likely  to  be  entertaining  and  instructive  to 
the  readers  of  any  work  on  rural  architecture,  that  I 
take  this  opportunity  to  make  a  few  extracts : 

"  Nothing  is  more  essential  than  good  impressions 
in  childhood,  and  nothing  secures  them  like  a  good  old 
barn.  I  speak  well  of  my  mother,  who  was  formed  in 
a  large  mould,  but  I  insist  on  my  grandfather's  barn, 
and  I  am  sure  that  I  had  more  pleasure  in  it  than  I 
have  had  in  the  new  opera-house,  and  I  would  not 
exchange  the  recollections  of  the  one  for  the  other. 
My  grandfathers  heart  was  as  large  as  his  barn,  and 
the  kingdom  of  God  was  within  him  (I  hope  he  is 
now  beyond  the  reach  of  evil  and  selfish  influence) ; 
and  he  knew  well  how  necessary  it  was  for  us  children 
to  play  on  his  hay,  and  he  let  us  do  it.  Every  Satur- 
day afternoon  my  sister  and  I,  with  two  other  boys, 
played  there,  and  on  Sunday  afternoon  we  went  (she 

Q 


242  * 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


and  I)  to  look  for  the  eggs — for  that  was  a  work  of 
necessity,  and  we  did  not  then  play  much,  for  Ave  were 
religious  and  knew  the  catechism.  But  Saturday  aft- 
ernoon was  our  high  tide,  and  we  sailed  free.  My  sis- 
ter could  not  climb  as  well  as  I  could,  but  she  was  sa- 
gacious in  discovering  hens1  nests,  and  in  the  art  of 
hiding  unequaled ;  and  as  she  was  a  capital  sympa- 
thizer and  peace-maker,  she  kept  her  equality,  and  we 
thought  her  a  very  good  fellow,  if  she  was  a  girl. 
True,  we  were  sorry  for  her,  but  then  we  said  she 
could  not  help  it.  There  was  no  floor  but  the  'thresh- 
ing' floor  (as  in  a  barn  built  for  children  there  should 
not  be),  but  on  either  side  of  it  the  deep  bays  extend- 
ed, and  high  up  the  dusky  light  filled  the  roof,  through 
which  a  pencil  of  sunshine  showed  the  dancing  motes. 
In  that  dim  space  the  swallows  wheeled,  and  we 
watched  them,  hoping  to  scatter  salt  on  their  tails ; 
but  may  be  our  salt  was  poor,  may  be  our  aim  was 
bad,  for  we  never  caught  one.  We  wondered  what 
their  mud  nests  up  in  the  very  high  ridge-pole  con- 
tained; sometimes  young  ones  we  knew,  but  eggs  we 
always  hoped,  and  Ave  sighed  that  we  could  not  reach 
them,  though  the  old  swallows  took  a  different  view 
of  it.  It  was  hard  to  climb  up  to  the  great  cross-ties, 
and  my  sister  could  not  do  it;  so  she  did  not  enjoy, 
as  Ave  did,  the  suspended  breath  of  long  jumps  into 
the  hay,  nor  the  imminent  peril  of  Avalking  that  beam. 
From  tie  to  tie  there  Avere  lofts,  Avhere  grain  Avas 
stored,  made  by  loose  poles.  There  Avas  every  reason 
to  expect  that  Ave  should  slip  through  these,  and  fall 
prone  twenty  feet ;  but  we  never  did ;  and  this  very 
danger  gave  a  charm  to  all  that  was  very  delicious. 
Moreover,  it  stimulated  our  daring  and  educated  our 
nerves,  and  was  a  security  against  the  greater  dangers 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


243 


of  becoming  f  spooney1  good  boys  (not  real  good  boys), 
which  are  apt  to  result  in  long  legs,  long  coat-tails, 
long  nails,  and  long  hair,  in  after  life — the  immediate 
precursors  of — early  marriage,  and  other  spooney  good 
children.  To  be  sure  we  always  tore  our  clothes,  and 
we  always  hurt  ourselves,  but  we  never  got  killed; 
children  never  do,  if  Providence  is  allowed  to  see  to 
them,  for  the  Providence  of  children,  when  they  are 
about  to  fall,  always  tilts  them  into  the  hay,  not  on 
to  the  floor.  Pious  parents  would  do  well  to  have  a 
little  more  trust  in  Providence.  Scapegraces  are  apt 
to  overdo  that,  and  to  forget  their  own  duty.  My 
mother  looked  upon  the  injuries  to  our  legs  and  pan- 
taloons in  quite  a  different  light ;  and  it  was  natural 
too,  for  the  last  she  had  to  mend,  and  the  first  would 
cget  well.'  However,  we  went  on  bravely  till  the  shad- 
ows of  evening  stole  upon  us ;  then  new  revelations 
came  to  us,  and  we  could  not  tell  what  large  thing 
might  not  be  sitting  in  the  peak,  nor  what  might  not 
be  lurking  in  the  dark  places,  nor  what  those  rustling 
noises  might  be,  for  we  could  hear  something.  Then 
the  germ  of  imagination  was  stimulated  to  life,  and 
the  sublimest  capacity  of  man — wonder — was  wrought 
up  to  action;  and  who  can  tell  but  a  poet  was  begun? 
Just  at  this  critical  moment  we  rushed  out  into  the 
evening  sky,  where  we  found  Jane  milking  the  quiet 
old  cow  in  the  first  light  of  the  evening  star.  About 
my  grandfather's  cow  there  was  nothing  pokerish  but 
her  horns,  which  she  shook  at  us  now  and  then,  so  we 
stood  by  Jane  and  Kitty  very  quietly,  watching  the 
yellow  milk  as  it  streamed  down  into  the  foam  (which 
we  knew  was  cream) ;  and  then  we  walked  home  with 
J ane,  not  because  we  were  afraid,  but  because  we  were 
good  children,  and  wanted  our  suppers.    Such  was 


244 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


the  end  of  many  a  delicious  Saturday  afternoon  in 
that  old  barn,  and  I  am  old  enough  to  love  its  mem- 
ories. Now,  in  conclusion,  I  hope  for  three  things. 
First,  that  when  our  litany  is  revised,  immediately 
after  famine,  pestilence,  and  sudden  death,  we  may  be 
allowed  to  say,  4  From  small  Gothic  barns  good  Lord 
deliver  us ! 1  Secondly,  that  all  good  mothers  will  be 
sincerely  sorry  for  what  they  have  done,  if  they  have 
supplied  their  boys  with  fringed  pantaloons,  a  small 
cane,  kid  gloves,  and  long  curls,  instead  of  country 
air  and  a  good  barn.  Thirdly,  that  fathers  of  fami- 
lies will  read  this  paper,  and  at  once  begin  to  build 
roomy,  ruinous  old  barns  somewhere  for  their  chil- 
dren and  the  swallows,  and  so  insure  good  consciences, 
manly  boys,  and — my  blessing." 


DESIGN  FOB  STABLE,  ETC. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


247 


DESIGN  No.  21. 

,  (V.&W.) 

IRREGULAR  WOODEN  COUNTRY  HOUSE. 

This  design  was  prepared  for  a  gentleman  resid- 
ing at  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  and  has  been  exe- 
cuted by  him,  under  his  own  immediate  supervision, 
on  a  valuable  site  in  the  vicinity  of  that  thriving  city. 
The  house  was  located  on  the  edge  of  a  beautiful  pine 
wood  that  forms  part  of  the  property ;  and  a  few  fine 
deciduous  trees,  that  had  been  fostered  and  pictur- 
esquely grouped  by  the  liberal  hand  of  Nature,  sug- 
gested the  exact  position  to  be  selected.  They  now 
form  a  valuable  help  to  the  architectural  composition, 
when  viewed  from  a  little  distance,  and,  as  anticipa- 
ted, add  Very  much  to  its  rural,  home  effect.  A  coun- 
try house  built  under  such  favorable  circumstances  as 
this  may  at  once  take  its  appropriate  place  in  the  land- 
scape; and  if  it  is  agreeable  in  color,  and  designed  with 
even  an  approximation  to  good  proportion  and  pictur- 
esque arrangement  of  light  and  shade  in  its  outlines,  it 
will  appear  to  be  an  old  resident  directly  it  is  occupied. 
The  leading  idea  of  the  plan  was  suggested  by  the 
wife  of  the  proprietor,  and  the  disposition  of  the 
rooms  on  the  principal  floor,  with  a  few  slight  modifi- 
cations, is  in  accordance  with  a  pencil-sketch  of  ar- 
rangement furnished  me,  as  expressing  her  wishes  on 
the  subject.  It  possesses,  as  will  be  seen,  many  ad- 
vantages, and  an  explanation  of  it  may,  I  hope,  in- 
duce other  ladies  who  may  look  over  this  volume  to 
take  some  personal  interest  in  the  plans  of  the  villas 
or  cottages  that  are  to  be  built  for  their  occupation 


248  VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 

and  enjoyment.  The  mistress  of  the  house  is,  in  real- 
ity, more  interested  than  any  one  else  in  the  conven- 
ience and  completeness  of  its  interior  arrangement,  for 
this  part  of  the  design  is  entirely  under  her  control 
and  regulation,  and  it  is  evident,  therefore,  that  she 
must  be  the  best  judge  of  what  will  suit  her  individ- 
ual requirements.  It  is  well  known  that  the  daughter 
of  ErwinVon  Steinbach  materially  assisted  her  father 
in  the  design  of  that  stupendous  triumph  of  Gothic 
architecture,  Strasburg  Cathedral,  and  a  sculptured 
memento  of  this  interesting  fact  is  preserved  within 
its  walls.  Both  father  and  daughter  are  represented  in 
stone  as  consulting  together  on  the  plan  of  the  cathe- 
dral, which  Steinbach  holds  in  his  hand,  together  with 
a  pair  of  measuring  compasses,  and  the  gently  earnest 
and  confiding  expression  that  is  to  be  traced  on  both 
faces  is  delightfully  rendered.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
but  that  the  study  of  domestic  architecture  is  well 
suited  to  a  feminine  taste,  and  it  has,  moreover,  so 
many  different  ramifications,  that  it  affords  frequent 
opportunities  for  turning  good  abilities  to  profitable 
account ;  for  if  we  even  allow  the  objections  that 
might  be  raised  by  some  against  the  actual  practice 
of  architecture  by  women,  such  as  the  necessity  for 
their  climbing  ladders,  mingling  with  the  mechanics 
and  laborers  during  the  progress  of  the  works,  and 
having  frequently  to  attend  to  the  superintendence 
of  buildings  in  disagreeable  weather,  and  at  all  sorts 
of  different  levels,  we  must,  nevertheless,  see  at  once 
that  there  is  nothing  in  the  world,  except  want  of  in- 
clination and  opportunity,  to  prevent  many  of  them 
from  being  thoroughly  expert  in  architectural  draw- 
ings, or  from  designing  excellent  furniture,  paper- 
hangings,  draperies,  carpets,  or  decorations,  or  from 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


249 


drawing  or  engraving  on  wood,  or  from  coloring  arch- 
itectural perspectives  in  water-colors,  or  from  model- 
ing ornaments  in  clay.  I  do  not,  it  will  be  perceived, 
include  in  the  difficulties  to  be  overcome  want  of  nat- 
ural ability,  for  this  certainly  does  not  exist.  The 
tasteful  and  delicate  needle-work  that  comes  from  the 
hands  of  women  is  amply  sufficient  proof  that  there  is 
a  supply  of  inventive  capacity  and  artistic  feeling  la- 
tent among  them  that  deserves,  in  civilized  countries 
and  liberally-educated  communities,  a  much  wider  out- 
let than  can  be  furnished  by  the  point  of  a  needle. 
To  return,  however,  to  our  plan.  A  porch  under  the 
tower  opens  into  a  principal  hall,  and  contains  an  out- 
side door  to  a  business  office  that  is  accessible  from 
the  staircase  hall  in  the  interior  of  the  house.  A  ve- 
randa, extending  round  three  sides  of  the  drawing- 
room,  also  connects  with  this  porch,  so  that  a  prome- 
nade of  considerable  extent  is  provided  by  the  design. 
The  hall  and  principal  staircase  are  so  designed  that 
they  form  one  symmetrical  composition,  and  a  light, 
open,  airy  effect  is  thus  produced.  The  drawing,  or 
summer  room,  is  a  handsome  apartment,  with  windows 
on  three  sides ;  two  of  them,  at  opposite  ends  of  the 
room,  open  on  to  a  veranda,  and  the  third  is  a  bay, 
commanding  an  agreeable  view  of  the  distant  land- 
scape, and  fitted  up  with  a  permanent  settee,  or  lounge. 
The  library  is  supplied  with  book-cases  recessed  in  the 
wall,  and  has  a  door  to  the  dining-room,  which  is  sup- 
plied with  a  pantry  and  china-closet.  The  servants' 
wing  is  above  ground,  and  contains  kitchen,  back 
kitchen,  pantry,  and  store-room.  In  the  basement  are 
cellars  and  a  furnace-room.  The  second  floor  plan 
provides  in  the  main  body  of  the  building  one  bed- 
room, with  dressing-room  attached,  also  a  large  room 


250 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


used  as  a  study,  and  three  other  chambers  of  moder- 
ate size,  and  all  furnished  with  closets.  In  the  wing 
will  be  found  a  bath-room  and  water-closet,  a  chil- 
dren's bedroom,  a  linen -closet,  and  a  servants'  bed- 
room. The  attic  is  not  finished  off  at  present,  but 
several  agreeable  rooms  can  be  arranged  here  when- 
ever they  are  needed. 

The  house  was  built  of  wood,  filled  in,  and  the  in- 
terior has  been  fitted  up  carefully  and  completely,  the 
work  being  done  by  the  day  under  the  proprietor's 
supervision.  The  cost  has  been  somewhat  over  what 
was  at  first  proposed,  and  an  extra  $5000  or  $6000 
could  easily  be  spent  on  such  a  house  as  this  by  in- 
creasing the  value  of  the  external  and  internal  work 
and  decoration  accordingly,  while  preparing  the  plans 
and  specifications. 


The  vignette  illustrates  a  termination  to  a  gable 
which  was  used  in  a  residence  at  Newburgh,  described 
at  page  225. 


VERGE-BO  ABD. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


253 


DESIGN  No.  22. 

(D.  &  V.) 

SUBURBAN  HOUSE  WITH  CURVED  ROOF. 

This  design  was  prepared  to  answer  the  require- 
ments of  a  suburban  residence  for  a  physician,  and  is 
occupied  by  Dr.  Culbert,  of  Newburgh.  As  it  is  situ- 
ated on  a  corner  lot  facing  the  main  street  in  the  up- 
per part  of  the  town,  it  was  necessary  to  pay  as  much 
attention  to  the  side  as  to  the  principal  elevation,  and 
the  plan  has  been  so  made  that  a  symmetrical  arrange- 
ment is  arrived  at  on  both  these  fronts.  The  house  is 
built  of  brick  and  brown  stone,  the  panels  being  re- 
cessed in  the  brick-work,  while  the  pilasters  and  cor- 
nices are  of  stone.  The  roof  is  curved  and  covered 
with  tin — the  porch,  the  veranda,  the  railings,  and  the 
work  on  the  roof  being  of  iron.  The  plan  may  be 
thus  described:  A  hall,  17x10,  communicates  with 
the  parlor  and  staircase  hall,  and  also  with  a  lobby 
that  leads  directly  to  the  consultation  room.  Any 
lady,  therefore,  who  may  inquire  at  the  front  door  for 
the  doctor,  can  be  shown  into  his  room  at  once, 
through  this  vestibule,  without  traversing  that  part 
of  the  house  which  is  in  use  by  the  family.  This  lob- 
by has  also  an  external  entrance  covered  by  a  porch, 
and  is  provided  with  a  bell  to  the  office,  so  that  the 
greater  number  of  those  who  call  professionally  go  to 
and  from  the  private  room  without  entering  the  resi- 
dence at  all.  The  consultation-room  communicates 
with  the  library,  and  this  again  with  the  inner  hall, 
and  also  with  the  drawing-room,  which  is  provided 


254 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


with  a  bay-window.  A  veranda,  accessible  from  both 
rooms,  is  located  in  the  angle  formed  by  the  library 
and  office.  The  staircase  is  made  circular  to  suit  the 
peculiarities  of  plan  and  site,  and  has  a  good  effect, 
as  it  runs  continuously  from  the  basement  to  the 
chamber  floor.  In  Paris  and  other  Continental  cities 
the  circular,  or  elliptical,  staircase  is  in  great  request, 
and  the  plan  offers,  undoubtedly,  many  advantages,  as 
it  takes  up  less  room  than  any  other  that  will  provide 
treads  and  risers  equally  easy  of  ascent.  But  I  do  not 
often  introduce  it  in  country  houses,  as  it  requires  a  lit- 
tle more  care  in  going  up  and  down,  and  stair  carpet- 
ing does  not  adapt  itself  satisfactorily  to  the  form. 
The  extra  labor  needed  for  steps  and  hand-rails  is  also 
more  expensive  than  the  room  and  material  required 
for  other  simpler  styles  of  staircase,  and  no  advantage 
is  therefore  gained  by  using  it,  except  under  peculiar 
circumstances.  But  in  a  design  like  this  it  may  be 
very  profitably  introduced,  as  it  enables  an  architect 
to  obtain  results  in  the  internal  arrangement  that 
could  not  otherwise  be  arrived  at  without  the  occupa- 
tion of  valuable  space.  In  this  case,  moreover,  the 
angles  supply  several  useful  closets,  which  could  not 
conveniently  be  dispensed  with  or  otherwise  located. 

The  chamber  plan  shows  four  bedrooms  and  a  bath- 
room ;  and  several  fine  bedrooms,  protected  by  the 
curved  roof,  are  arranged  in  the  attic.  The  dining- 
room  and  kitchen  offices  are  planned,  according  to  in- 
structions, in  the  basement. 

This  house  has  been  built  on  the  upper  level  of 
Newburgh,  in  Grand  Street,  which  is  at  present  the 
handsomest  thoroughfare  that  passes  through  the 
town.  It  offers  a  drive  of  ample  width,  and  thor- 
oughly well  constructed,  high  up  above  the  river,  and 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


255 


on  a  parallel  line  with  it.  It  is  lined  on  both  sides 
with  fine  flourishing  trees,  most  of  which  have  been 
planted  within  the  last  twenty  years,  and  many  of 
them  considerably  within  that  time.  The  last  four  or 
five  years'  growth  has  wonderfully  improved  the  ap- 
pearance of  this  vista;  and  the  beautiful  elms  and 
maples,  with  their  wide-spreading  and  interarching 
branches,  promise  ere  long  to  produce  an  effect  that 
may  equal  the  far-famed  Hill-house  Avenue  in  New 
Haven.  Grand  Street  is  thus  naturally  becoming  the 
principal  promenade  of  Newburgh,  and  the  often-re- 
curring glimpses  of  the  Hudson,  with  its  gleaming 
and  ever-shifting  freight  of  sails  that  one  catches  at 
intervals  framed  in  the  foliage  of  the  trees  on  the  side- 
streets,  give  it  a  charming  pictorial  character  that  is 
very  rarely  attainable. 

This  design  was  built  some  years  ago,  at  an  outlay 
of  about  $10,000 ;  but  I  am  unable  to  furnish  the  ex- 
act particulars  of  cost.  This  house  has  been  painted 
in  quiet,  agreeable  tints,  but,  in  the  first  instance,  was 
finished,  according  to  the  design,  with  a  fair  quality  of 
red  brick,  that  contrasted  in  color  so  richly  and  artist- 
ically with  the  brown  stone  and  brown  wood-work 
that  I  was  very  sorry  indeed  to  see  the  painters  at 
work  covering  it  all  up  one  fine  day.  There  can,  I 
know,  be  little  doubt  but  that  red  brick,  unrelieved  by 
any  other  material,  is  altogether  too  vivid  in  color  to 
please  in  an  American  climate ;  but  when,  as  in  this 
instance,  it  is  used  in  conjunction  with  a  good  deal  of 
stone,  like  the  Little  Falls  or  Connecticut  brown,  the 
effect  is  altogether  too  harmonious  and  satisfactory  to 
need  any  attempt  at  improvement,  and  it  is  certain 
that  the  house  will  look  much  larger  and  more  valua- 
able  if  the  work  is  left  in  its  pristine  state  than  if  the 


256 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


surfaces  are  painted,  although  the  work  may  be  done 
by  the  best  painters,  and  with  the  best  colors  that 
money  can  procure.  Few  persons  take  the  trouble  to 
calculate  the  real  cost  of  paint,  which  seems  a  much 
more  economical  material  to  use  than  it  is  in  reality. 
If  the  sums  spent  in  external  painting  were  added  to 
the  value  of  the  brick  or  stone  used  in  the  building, 
they  would  often  procure  materials  that  would  need 
no  painting  at  all.  And  the  same  rule  applies  in  the 
interior.  Well-grained  white  pine  costs  as  much  as 
oiled  Southern  pine,  and  the  latter  is  a  really  beauti- 
ful material  when  oiled  or  varnished,  while  the  grain- 
ing is  but  a  sham  and  pretense,  however  well  it  may 
be  executed. 


The  vignette  illustrates  one  of  the  dormer-windows 
to  a  larger  scale. 


DESIGN  No  23 


PERSPECTIVE  VIEW. 


PIAN  OF  PRINCIPAL  FLOOE. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


259 


DESIGN  No.  23. 

SIMPLE  PICTURESQUE  COUNTRY  HOUSE. 

This  design,  which  is  fully  illustrated  on  a  subse- 
quent page,  was  carried  out  in  a  simple  manner  a 
few  years  ago  for  the  residence  of  Mr.  N.  P.  Willis, 
at  Idlewild,  his  beautiful  country  place  on  the  banks 
of  the  Hudson  (with  the  omission  of  the  bell  turret 
and  a  few  minor  features  that  may  possibly  be  added 
at  some  future  time).  The  position  selected,  while  it 
commands  a  full  view  of  Newburgh  Bay,  is  on  the 
edge  of  a  wood,  and  on  the  verge  of  a  plateau  that  al- 
most overhangs  a  deep  ravine.  The  rocky  sides  of  this 
gorge  are  clothed  with  sturdy  pines  and  hemlocks,  and 
thus  often  shut  out  from  the  eye,  but  never  from  the 
ear,  a  turbulent  mountain  stream  that  roars  through 
the  long,  narrow  pass,  and  falls  some  two  hundred 
feet  in  a  series  of  rapid,  successive  leaps  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  house.  There  is  also  a  quieter  brook 
that  winds  its  way  through  the  property,  and  yet  an- 
other smaller  rivulet,  both  of  which,  after  fraternizing 
with  their  more  noisy  and  energetic  companion,  flow 
into  Moodna  Creek,  which  almost  at  the  same  point 
empties  itself  into  the  Hudson.  The  site  for  the 
house  is  therefore  very  picturesque,  and  is  peculiar  in 
many  respects,  overlooking,  as  it  does,  the  Hudson  and 
three  or  four  of  its  tributaries.  These  latter,  with  the 
ravine  and  inland  scenery,  lie  far  down  on  one  side. 
Beautiful  views  of  the  bay  and  the  Highlands  are 
gained  from  the  south  and  east  fronts,  and  a  thick 
pine  wood  encircles  and  protects  the  remainder. 


260 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


When  the  building  had  been  entirely  erected  on  pa- 
per, and  before  the  foundations  were  laid,  all  the  lines 
of  the  plan  were  set  out  under  the  special  direction  of 
Mr.  Willis,  who  seemed  to  take  more  interest  in  ac- 
commodating the  house  to  the  fancies  of  the  genius 
of  the  place  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  arrange- 
ment. And  the  whole  design  was  so  fitted  among  the 
evergreens,  and  adapted  to  every  peculiarity  of  the 
site,  that  it  appears  to  be  almost  surrounded  by  tall, 
flourishing  trees,  although  broad  stretches  of  distance 
in  every  direction,  and  extensive  views  of  the  river 
and  mountain  scenery  are  gained  from  the  various 
windows,  each  view  being  a  separate  picture  set  in  a 
frame  of  unfading  foliage.  The  advantageous  result 
arrived  at  by  this  careful  study  of  the  exact  position 
for  such  a  house,  although  more  negative  than  posi- 
tive, is  incalculable.  The  new  house  was  made  to 
look  not  new,  points  of  view  were  not  sacrificed,  and 
time  was  not  lost  in  waiting  for  young  trees  to  grow 
in  place  of  old  ones  that  would  have  had  to  be  re- 
moved for  the  sake  of  a  prospect,  if  less  foresight  had 
been  exercised  at  starting.  In  such  cases  it  is  the 
foot  or  two  one  way  or  the  other  that  makes  or  mars, 
and  when  once  the  contractor  is  fairly  at  work,  alter- 
ation is  next  to  impossible. 

Mr.  Willises  house  looked  like  an  old  familiar  settler 
almost  before  the  roof  was  on,  and  it  can  easily  be  un- 
derstood that,  under  such  circumstances,  every  subse- 
quent stroke  in  the  way  of  improvement  will  yield  its 
fullest  value. 

From  the  upper  approach  road  on  the  level  of  the 
plateau  and  principal  entrance  the  house  appears  to 
be,  what  in  actual  fact  it  is,  a  plain,  roomy  cottage 
residence,  comfortably  sheltered  among  the  trees ;  but 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


261 


from  the  lower  road  along  the  river  bank,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  gorge,  its  situation  gives  it  a  less  ordinary  effect. 
High  up  among  the  trees,  and  apparently  on  the  very 
edge  of  a  precipitous  ascent,  it  seems  to  peer  over  the 
topmost  branches  of  the  dark  pines,  and  to  command 
the  whole  valley  below.  The  position  is  exactly  such 
a  one  as  a  medieval  knight  would  have  selected  for  his 
strong-hold,  and  a  little  imagination  may  easily  trans- 
mute the  simple  domestic  cottage  into  the  turreted  and 
battlemented  castle.  We  sometinies  hear  a  regret  that 
the  shores  of  the  Hudson  are  deficient  in  interesting 
buildings,  and  that  they  lack  the  poetic  associations 
that  cling  to  the  Rhine,  with  its  thousand  picturesque 
old  ruins.  This  is  perhaps  true;  but  if  so,  it  might 
easily  be  remedied,  if  the  poetic  spirit  were  encouraged 
to  be  active  in  the  life,  and  not  passively  dependent 
on  the  memory,  for  picturesque  and  artistic  beauty  be- 
long to  whoever  can  realize  them.  It  is,  moreover,  a 
little  inconsistent  for  any  true  lover  of  freedom  to  take 
much  pleasure  in  contemplating  old  castles  for  the  sake 
of  their  associations.  There  are  surely  much  more 
beautiful  associations  connected  with  free,  peaceful  in- 
dustry, whenever  it  is  generous  and  joyous.  Dark 
dungeons,  spiky,  picturesque  portcullises,  and  artistic 
machicolations  for  pouring  down  hot  pitch  on  unin- 
vited visitors,  may,  undoubtedly,  have  a  somewhat 
mysterious  and  romantic  air  about  them ;  but  the  sen- 
timent they  express  is  not,  in  reality,  either  touching 
or  true.  A  nobler  phase  of  poetic  thought,  and  a 
more  courteous  chivalry  properly  belong  to  this  freer 
country  and  more  civilized  era. 

It  would  scarcely,  for  example,  have  been  a  very 
easy  matter  to  explain  to  any  middle  age  Front  de 
Bceuf  the  propriety  of  the  sentiment  embodied  in  the 


262  i 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


following  remarks  of  Mr.  Willis  when  speaking  inci- 
dentally of  the  visits  of  strangers  to  the  interesting 
country  place  he  has  discovered  and  rendered  enjoyable: 

uTo  fence  out  a  genial  eye  from  any  corner  of  the 
earth  which  Nature  has  lovingly  touched  with  her 
pencil,  which  never  repeats  itself — to  shut  up  a  glen 
or  a  water-fall  for  one  man's  exclusive  knowing  or  en- 
joying— to  lock  up  trees  and  glades,  shady  paths  and 
haunts  among  rivulets,  would  be  an  embezzlement  by 
one  man  of  God's  gift  to  all.  A  capitalist  might  as 
well  curtain  off  a  star,  or  have  the  monopoly  of  an 
hour.  Doors  may  lock,  but  out-doors  is  a  freehold  to 
feet  and  eyes.11 

The  clay  for  castles,  or  even  magnificent  mansions, 
has  never  yet  dawned  in  America ;  and  as  its  arrival 
must  necessarily  be  accompanied  by  a  return  of  feud- 
alism in  some  form  or  other,  any  wish  for  the  advent 
of  such  a  day  should  be  at  once  rejected  by  even  the 
most  art-loving  republican.  And  yet,  although  we  at 
once  give  up  all  hopes  of  this  sort,  no  real  sacrifice 
need  be  made  in  so  doing,  for  a  beauty  of  outline  and 
color,  and  a  picturesqueness  of  grouping  fully  equal  to 
that  which  was  realized  by  the  barons  of  yore  in  their 
moated  strong-holds,  or  the  noblemen  of  the  olden 
time  in  their  splendid  palaces,  may  undoubtedly  be 
reproduced  in  the  rural  architecture  needed  by  Amer- 
icans of  the  nineteenth  century  whenever  it  shall  be 
properly  developed.  The  effect  must  be  produced  in 
a  different  way,  of  course,  and  with  a  different  spirit 
to  guide  it,  but  it  may,  nevertheless,  be  equally  at- 
tractive and  equally  poetic,  if  viewed  from  the  proper 
point  of  view.  In  America  the  stranger  will  never, 
probably,  be  much  struck  with  the  architectural  re- 
sults of  wealth  concentrated  through  a  series  of  gener- 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


263 


ations ;  but  if  art  flourishes  as  is  to  be  hoped,  he  will 
be  still  more  surprised  and  delighted  by  the  constant 
recurrence  of  beauty  and  grace  in  the  residences  of  the 
large  body  of  the  people,  and  the  impression  made  on 
the  mind  will,  on  the  whole,  be  more  striking  and 
more  lasting  than  if  it  were  excited  by  a  compara- 
tively few  large  objects  of  interest  rearing  themselves 
proudly  up  from  a  low  general  level  of  unprogressive 
poverty  and  wearisome  monotony. 

The  plan  jDrovides  a  brick  porch  that  may  be  in- 
closed, communicating  with  a  veranda  and  with  a 
principal  hall  of  moderate  dimensions.  This  hall 
opens  into  a  parlor,  a  dining-room,  a  library,  and  a 
bedroom,  each  purposely  disconnected  with  the  other. 
It  also  leads  through  a  door  into  the  principal  stair- 
case hall,  and  a  back  staircase  provides  a  private  gar- 
den-entrance, and  communicates  with  the  dining-room 
through  a  pantry,  in  which  is  a  rising  lift  connected 
with  the  kitchen.  The  windows  that  open  on  to  the 
verandas  are  glazed  to  the  floor,  and  the  dining  and 
drawing  rooms  have  bay-windows.  It  was  at  first 
proposed  to  have  a  projecting  window  to  the  library, 
and  to  carry  it  up  two  stories,  for  this  point  com- 
mands a  view  clear  down  into  the  very  heart  of  the 
glen,  and  in  the  early  summer  presents  to  the  eye  a 
wonderful  waving  sea  of  vividly  green  tree-tops,  among 
which  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish  a  single  bough  or 
trunk ;  but  this  part  of  the  architectural  arrangement 
had  to  be  given  up  as  too  costly.  Fortunately,  how- 
ever, the  inexpensive  green  gulf,  whose  books  are  the 
running  brooks,  floats  on  with  a  glorious  disregard 
of  more  conventional  libraries,  and  never  refuses  to  be 
enjoyed  because  it  does  not  happen  to  be  contempla- 
ted from  an  appropriate  bay-window. 


264 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


The  dining-room  was  at  one  time  designed  where 
the  bedroom  is  now  placed,  but  more  mature  consid- 
eration located  it  in  its  present  situation,  so  that  it 
might  receive  the  benefit  of  the  afternoon  sun,  which, 
as  the  house  is  proposed  to  be  occupied  all  the  year 
round,  is  a  desirable  addition  to  enjoyment  during  the 
colder  months  in  a  room  so  much  occupied  by  a  fam- 
ily as  the  dining-room. 

The  library  contains  book-cases  recessed  in  the  walls, 
and,  as  well  as  the  parlor,  or  drawing-room,  opens  on 
to  a  veranda  more  private  than  the  one  communica- 
ting with  the  entrance-porch.  All  the  rooms  on  this 
floor  were  finished  simply,  the  walls  being  prepared 
for  papering.  The  casings  to  the  doors  and  windows 
are  unmoulded,  and  the  wood-work  is  painted  in  plain 
tints,  a  liberal  supply  of  room  and  plenty  of  fresh  air 
being  preferred  throughout  to  any  elaboration  of  de- 
tail. 

The  bedroom  plan  provides  two  chambers,  with 
dressing-rooms  attached,  two  other  good-sized  sleeping 
apartments,  and  a  smaller  spare  room,  all  furnished 
with  permanent  closets.  These,  together  with  a  bath- 
room, water-closet,  and  linen-room,  complete  the  ac- 
commodation on  this  floor.  The  upper  hall  is  open 
and  airy,  and  communicates  with  the  back  staircase, 
which  is  continued  to  the  attic  story.  As-  the  roof  is 
of  a  high  pitch,  and  a  large  flat  is  designed  on  the  top 
to  connect  the  various  ridges,  this  attic  is  roomy,  and 
provides  several  available  spare  bedrooms  besides  what 
are  necessary  for  the  use  of  the  servants ;  and  the  free, 
uninterrupted,  uppermost  hall  being  cheerfully  light- 
ed and  well  ventilated,  offers  an  available  play-room 
for  children.  This  is  a  desideratum  in  a  family  house, 
as  the  active  pattering  of  feet  that  in  early  years  ac- 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


267 


companies  the  healthy  development  of  any  new  growth 
of  possible  Presidents  is  not  less  beneficial  in  its  influ- 
ence when  removed  a  story  from  the  ceilings  of  the 
principal  living-rooms.  The  rain-water  cistern  being 
sunk  in  the  floor  over  the  bath-room,  allows  a  large 
proportion  of  the  water  from  the  roof  to  be  collected 
in  it,  the  remainder  being  carried  by  rain-water  pipes 
into  brick  cisterns  sunk  in  the  ground  near  the  house. 

The  two  windows  shown  at  A  A  not  being  abso- 
lutely necessary,  were  omitted  in  execution,  but  they 
would,  of  course,  make  the  two  attic  rooms  in  which 
they  occur  more  agreeable,  and  they  can  be  introduced 
at  little  cost,  if  it  is  ever  thought  worth  while  to  in- 
sert them. 

The  general  arrangement  for  the  roof  and  the  posi- 
tion for  the  proposed  bell  turret  are  shown  on  the  roof 
plan.  A  rope  could  thus  be  arranged  to  pass  from  the 
bell  down  the  side  of  the  bath-room  to  the  pantry  be- 
low, where  it  would  be  most  easily  accessible  when 
wanted. 

The  basement  plan  shows  a  kitchen,  with  windows 
almost  entirely  out  of  ground ;  a  sink-room,  several 
pantries  and  store-closets,  a  milk-room,  a  wash-room, 
a  provision-cellar,  a  coal-cellar,  and  furnace-room  are 
also  provided,  and  an  open  hall  communicating  with 
an  outer  entrance  at  the  lower  level.  This  entrance 
is  shown  on  the  side  of  the  plan,  and  was  after- 
ward covered  by  a  porch  and  rendered  more  com- 
modious. 

The  house  was  built  of  brick,  covered  with  a  lime- 
wash.  The  general  plans  and  specifications  only  were 
provided  by  the  architect,  who  was  not  required  to 
furnish  the  detail  drawings  or  to  superintend  the 
work.    The  contract  for  carpenter  s  and  mason's  work 


268 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES 


was  taken  at  $7700,  painting,  plumbing,  and  other  et 
cseteras  not  included. 


The  vignette  illustrates  a  small  cottage  executed  in 
the  same  neighborhood.  The  plan  is  simple,  but  sup- 
plies an  amount  of  accommodation  that  is  frequently 
in  request.  A  timber  porch  leads  to  a  principal  hall, 
which  communicates  with  a  parlor  and  dining-room, 
and  both  these  apartments  open  on  to  a  veranda.  The 
dining-room  has  a  roomy  pantry  attached,  that  is  ac- 
cessible privately  from  the  kitchen  department.  The 
chamber  floor  contains  two  large  and  two  small  bed- 
rooms. Kitchen  offices  are  supplied  in  the  basement ; 
and  the  contract,  including  painting  and  all  items  nec- 
essary to  prepare  the  house  for  actual  occupation,  ex- 
cept grates  and  mantles,  was  taken  at  $3470. 


PRINCIPAL  FLOOR.  «3  CHAMBJL&  FLOOR. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


271 


DESIGN  No.  24. 

(V.  &  W.) 

IRREGULAR  BRICK  VILLA. 

This  study  has  been  prepared  for  execution  for  a 
gentleman  residing  in  Newburgh,  and  is  designed  to 
suit  a  very  agreeable  site  commanding  an  extensive 
view  of  the  Hudson  River.  No  contracts  have  at 
present  been  made,  and  I  am  therefore  unable  to  give 
particulars  of  cost,  but  should  estimate  it  at  from 
$10,000  to  $12,000,  if  the  house  is  built  of  brick,  and 
the  attic  left  unfinished,  as  proposed. 

The  plan  provides  an  entrance-porch  opening  into 


PLAN  OF  ROOFS 


a  large  hall,  in  which  is  a  wide,  open  staircase  leading 
to  the  upper  story.  Where  there  is  no  second  stair- 
case in  a  country  house,  this  plan  of  arranging  the 


272 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


principal  flight  in  the  main  hall  is  attended  with  sev- 
eral disadvantages,  as  the  servants  have  to  be  con- 
stantly traversing  it  backward  and  forward  when  at- 
tending to  the  upper  rooms.  In  a  house  like  this,  on 
the  other  hand,  where  there  is  a  kitchen  wing  and  a 
back  staircase,  a  well-proportioned,  handsome,  open  de- 
sign, with  newel  posts  and  solid  turned  balusters,  may 
be  made  to  add  much  to  the  dignity  of  the  hall,  and 
to  give  a  special  character  and  individuality  to  the 
whole  house.  The  owner,  when  giving  his  instruc- 
tions in  regard  to  the  design  now  under  considera- 
tion, laid  much  stress  on  this  feature  of  the  plan,  and 
was  desirous  that  it  should  be  both  easy  of  ascent  and 
liberal  in  its  general  appearance.  I  have  endeavored 
to  avoid  one  inconvenience  that  is  often  felt  in  houses 
that  have  the  staircase  leading  directly  from  the  main 
hall  to  the  chamber  plan  above.  I  refer  to  the  want 
of  domestic  privacy  that  is  likely  to  be  experienced  by 
this  arrangement,  if  not  guarded  against  in  the  plan, 
for  the  upper  and  lower  halls  being,  in  such  cases,  gen- 
erally open  one  to  the  other,  any  conversation  going 
on  above  stairs,  or  any  slight  noise  that  may  be  made 
is  heard  distinctly  even  at  the  front  entrance,  and  this 
is  oftentimes  undesirable. 

It  will  be  observed  in  the  chamber  plan  of  this 
house  that  the  upper  hall  is  shut  off  from  the  stair- 
case landing  by  a  door,  and  lighted  separately  by  a 
skylight.  The  bedrooms  are  thus  divided  off  effectu- 
ally from  the  lower  rooms  without  losing  the  free, 
airy  effect  that  is  aimed  at  in  the  open  staircase.  The 
stairs  to  the  attics  commence  from  the  landing,  and  by 
this  means  the  privacy  of  the  principal  suite  of  bed- 
rooms is  rendered  still  more  complete.  Two  bedrooms, 
a  linen-closet,  bath-room,  water-closet,  and  house-maid's 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


273 


closet,  with  sink,  are  provided  in  the  wing,  and  provis- 
ion is  made  for  obtaining  four  or  five  large  bedrooms 
in  the  attic  whenever  it  is  thought  desirable  to  finish 
them  off.  The  roof  plan  is  added,  and  it  will  be  seen 
that  although  the  house  is  irregular  in  plan  there 
would  be  no  practical  difiiculty  in  so  arranging  the 
lines  of  the  roof  that  the  snow  would  have  no  chance 
of  lodging  in  any  part  of  it.  The  basement  plan  ex- 
plains itself.  The  three  principal  rooms  communicate 
with  each  other,  and  it  will  be  seen  that  the  veranda 
which  commands  the  river  view  is  expanded  into  a 
semi-octagonal  pavilion  opposite  the  dining-room  win- 
dows, so  that  the  tea-table  may  be  prepared  there, 
when  preferred,  in  the  summer,  and  a  small  smoking- 
piazza  is  arranged  so  as  to  be  easily  accessible  from 
the  dining-room,  which  has  a  large  pantry  attached  to 
it,  connected  with  the  kitchen,  etc.  The  library,  it 
will  be  observed,  is,  as  it  were,  embayed  at  the  end, 
so  that  book-cases  may  be  recessed  in  the  angles,  and 
some  variety  obtained  both  internally  and  externally. 
The  porch,  with  the  gable  over  it,  thus  acquires  the 
prominence  that  properly  belongs  to  it.  A  large  pro- 
jecting gable  over  the  end  of  the  library  would  have 
had  a  tendency  to  make  the  entrance  of  secondary  im- 
portance, especially  as  it  would  have  occurred  at  the 
most  prominent  angle  in  driving  up  to  the  house,  and 
the  design  was  therefore  arranged  with  a  hipped  roof; 
as  shown  on  the  perspective. 

A  projecting  balcony  is  arranged  to  be  entered  from 
the  room  over  the  library.  This  addition  to  a  design 
is  not  very  expensive,  and  helps  materially  to  give 
picturesque  character  to  a  front ;  it  casts  a  deep  shad- 
ow, and  serves  somewhat  as  a  hood  to  the  lower  win- 
dows.   This  house,  which  has  not  yet  been  contracted 

S 


274 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


for,  is  proposed  to  be  built  of  brick,  painted  in  quiet, 
neutral  tints,  the  cornices,  verandas,  etc.,  being  of 
wood ;  and  if  a  plain  finish  is  used  throughout,  the 
carpenters  and  mason's  estimate  should  be  about 
the  amount  mentioned  above. 


The  vignette  illustrates  a  design  prepared  for  a 
chimney  for  the  residence  shown  on  page  304.  As 
the  stacks  had  each  to  contain  many  smoke-flues  and 
several  ventilating-flues,  they  would  have  worked  out 
rather  larger  than  seemed  desirable  for  external  effect 
if  all  the  flues  had  been  carried  up  of  equal  height, 
and  the  ventilating  openings  were  therefore  brought 
together,  so  as  to  finish  on  the  ends  of  each  stack  at  a 
lower  level  than  the  other  flues.  By  this  means  the 
design  of  the  chimney  is  somewhat  modified  from  the 
ordinary  every-day  form,  and  a  square  outline  avoided 
in  a  situation  where  it  would  have  been  inappropriate. 


DESIGN  F03  CIIIMNEY  WITH  VENTILATING  FLUES. 


DESIGN  No.  25.—(V.&W.) 


PERSPECTIVE  VIEW. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


277 


DESIGN  No.  25. 

(V.  &  W.) 

SUBURBAN  HOUSE  WITH  CURVILINEAR  ROOF. 

This  is  a  preliminary  study  made  for  a  gentleman 
in  Worcester,  and  although  it  is  not,  and  probably 
will  not,  be  executed  by  him,  the  plan  is  one  that 
offers  an  amount  of  accommodation  that  is  often  asked 
for ;  and  as  it  is,  moreover,  a  variation  of  the  simple 
rectangular  form,  and  has  some  peculiarities  in  the 
bedroom  arrangement,  it  seems  worth  while  to  sub- 
mit it.  Almost  any  character  of  roof  may  be  adapted 
to  a  house  of  this  plan,  and  the  ogee  form  that  is  il- 
lustrated in  the  view  is  effective  in  some  situations, 
and  has  been  carried  into  execution  in  a  design  I  pre- 
pared for  new  roofing  a  square  house  for  another  par- 
ty in  the  same  neighborhood.  The  attic  rooms  in  a 
roof  of  this  sort  are  nearly  as  symmetrical  as  those  in 


the  second  story,  and  are  entirely  protected  from  the 
heat.  The  accommodation  provided  by  the  plan  of 
principal  floor  consists  of  a  projecting  veranda  porch, 
which  gives  access  to  a  hall,  a  reception-room,  library, 


278 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


drawing-room,  and  dining-room  in  the  main  body  of 
the  house,  while  a  pantry,  with  dumb  waiter,  plate 
and  china  closets,  and  also  a  private  entrance,  with 
dressing-room  and  water-closet,  are  arranged  in  a  one- 
story  projection.  Two  of  the  principal  rooms  have 
bay-windows,  and  two  communicate  with  a  veranda. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  apartments,  though  sim- 
ply planned,  are  liberal  in  size  and  easy  of  access. 
The  same  arrangement  might  be  adopted  either  on  a 
larger  or  smaller  scale.  In  the  bedroom  plan  it  was 
wished  to  provide  a  suite  of  rooms  connected  one  with 
the  other,  and  with  dressing-room  and  bath-room  at- 
tached. This,  it  will  be  perceived,  is  arranged  for, 
and  two  spare  bedrooms  and  a  linen-press,  with  an 
easy  stairway  to  the  upper  rooms,  are  kept  distinct, 
with  direct  access  from  the  principal  flight.  The  attic 
is  proposed  to  contain  six  bedrooms,  a  large  garret, 
and  an  open  hall.  In  the  basement  will  be  found  a 
servants'  entrance  and  well-lighted,  airy  corridor  com- 
municating with  kitchen,  sink-room,  wash-room,  store- 
room, provision-cellar,  coal-cellar,  and  furnace-room. 
As  the  study  was  made  for  a  house  proposed  to  be 
erected  on  sloping  ground,  there  is  a  brick  piazza  in 
front  of  the  kitchen,  and  accessible  from  it.  This 
might  be  convenient  on  some  occasions  for  drying 
clothes ;  and  as  it  would  be  unseen  both  from  the  en- 
trance front  and  from  the  interior  of  the  house,  it 
might  be  thus  used  without  any  annoyance.  Such  a 
house  as  this,  and  of  the  scale  illustrated,  would  cost, 
under  ordinary  circumstances,  about  $10,000.  It  was 
proposed  to  be  erected  of  brick,  with  brown  stone 
quoins  at  the  angles. 

This  design,  it  will  be  observed,  is  very  simple  in 
its  plan,  and  a  suburban  house  must  generally  be  ar- 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


279 


ranged  in  a  compact,  regular  form,  because  the  size  of 
the  lots  available  for  this  class  of  residence  is  almost 
always  much  more  limited  than  for  dwellings  required 
to  be  erected  in  more  completely  rural  situations.  The 
external  appearance  of  such  a  house  should,  I  think,  be 
somewhat  symmetrical,  if  it  is  proposed  to  harmonize 
agreeably  with  the  other  buildings  in  its  neighborhood, 
and  with  the  regular  and  unavoidably  formal  line  of 
the  paved  avenue,  or  street,  that  passes,  in  front  of  it. 

In  a  fine  open,  undulating  site,  well  planted  with 
trees,  a  symmetrical  house  can  hardly  appear  to  ad- 
vantage, however  carefully  it  may  be  designed ;  and 
in  a  busy  thoroughfare,  an  irregular,  picturesque  plan 
must  be  equally  difficult  to  manage  satisfactorily,  be- 
cause the  whole  aspect  of  its  surroundings  will  be 
likely  to  suggest  the  idea  of  precision  and  accuracy, 
and  the  artistic  eye  can  hardly  fail  to  perceive  the 
propriety,  under  such  circumstances,  of  a  well-defined, 
self-contained  expression  in  each  of  the  buildings  that 
attracts  its  attention. 

In  the  suburban  house  an  opportunity  is  offered  to 
attempt  a  combination  of  both  the  city  and  the  coun- 
try residence ;  and  although  the  plan  may  need  to  be 
plain  and  unbroken,  the  details  may  be  so  managed  as 
to  give  any  desirable  degree  of  picturesqueness  to  the 
general  composition. 


The  vignette  illustrates  a  study  prepared  to  show 
what  may  be  done  to  give  a  picturesque  character  to 
an  exactly  square  house,  without  any  break  whatever 
in  the  plan  of  the  walls.  A  recessed  porch  leads  to  an 
open  hall  and  stairway  on  the  principal  floor,  which 


280  VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 

contains  a  library,  drawing-room,  dining-room,  pantry, 
and  small  bedroom,  also  a  water-closet  near  a  garden 
entrance  under  the  half-landing,  the  basement  stairs 
being  shut  off  at  this  point.  The  perspective  view 
shows  the  veranda,  or  garden  front.  The  bedroom 
plan  gives  four  bedrooms,  a  dressing-room,  bath-room, 
linen-press,  and  attic  stairs.  The  other  plans  are  not 
drawn  out,  as  the  object  is  sufficiently  gained  from  the 
two  submitted.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  even  a  sim- 
ple square,  which  is  the  most  absolutely  formal  plan 
that  can  be  selected  for  a  house,  may  be  rendered,  in 
a  measure,  picturesque,  if  some  study  is  given  to  the 
arrangement  of  the  roof  lines  and  the  spacing  of  the 
windows. 

It  is  a  common  error  among  those  who  intend  to 
build  economical,  straightforward  houses  in  the  coun- 
try, to  suppose  that  there  is  no  need  to  consult  a  pro- 
fessional man  about  their  plans.  The  fact  is,  that  a 
simple  design  requires  to  be  drawn  out  very  carefully 
for  execution,  so  that  its  internal  and  external  pro- 
portions may  be  agreeable,  because,  in  a  plain  house, 
its  proportions  are  all  that  it  has  to  depend  on  to  re- 
lieve it  from  absolute  unsightliness. 


DESIGN  No.  26. 


TLAN  OF  PRINCIPAL  FLOOR. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


283 


DESIGN  No.  26. 

WOODEN  VILLA  WITH  TOWER  AND  ATTICS. 

This  design  belongs  to  a  gentleman  in  Worcester, 
Massachusetts,  and  has  been  adapted  to  a  fine  situa- 
tion about  a  mile  from  that  thriving  city.  The  pro- 
prietor of  the  site  has  no  very  immediate  intention  of 
erecting  his  country  house,  but,  unlike  many  of  his 
countrymen,  has  preferred  to  have  his  plans  before 
him  for  a  year  or  so,  prior  to  breaking  ground,  so  that 
all  the  minor  points  of  internal  convenience  and  exte- 
rior detail  may  be  fairly  and  completely  discussed  and 
studied  out  as  opportunity  offers.  This  is  a  mode  of 
proceeding  much  more  likely  to  lead  to  a  satisfactory 
result  than  to  leave  the  whole  matter  to  the  last  mo- 
ment, and  then  hurriedly  instruct  an  architect  to  pre- 
pare plans,  specifications,  and  contracts  in  the  course 
of  a  fortnight,  that  shall  be  warranted  to  supply  all 
the  accommodation  required  by  each  member  of  a 
family,  in  exactly  the  artistic  form  that  will  suit  every 
body,  and  at  exactly  the  price  that  the  owner  has  con- 
cluded it  will  be  quite  convenient  for  him  to  lay  out. 
Such  requests  are  not  unfrequently  made  by  employ- 
ers in  perfect  good  faith,  and  without  any  apparent 
perception  of  their  impracticability,  and  yet  it  must 
be  evident,  on  consideration,  that  if  a  design  is  wanted 
in  a  very  short  space  of  time,  only  a  limited  amount 
of  study  can  properly  be  given  to  it,  and  the  natural 
result  is  likely  to  be  that  the  house  will  not  be  com- 
pletely adapted  to  the  requirements  of  those  who  pro- 


284 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


pose  to  occupy  it,  simply  because  the  architect  has  had 
no  fair  opportunity  to  consult  the  well-weighed  in- 
structions of  his  employer. 

The  plan  shows  a  porch,  which  occupies  the  lowest 
story  of  the  tower,  and  forms  part  of  a  front  veranda. 
The  principal  hall  connects  with  the  principal  rooms. 
The  library  and  parlor  communicate  with  each  other, 
and  with  another  and  more  private  veranda.  The 
dining-room  is  kept  separate  from  the  other  rooms, 
and  has  an  access  to  the  kitchen  wing.  In  the  stair- 
case hall  is  a  door  to  a  bedroom  on  this  floor.  The 
kitchen  wing  is  arranged  with  pantry,  store-room,  etc., 
and  servants1  bedroom,  that  might  be  a  wash-room,  if 
preferred.  The  upper  floor  provides  five  bedrooms  in 
the  main  body  of  the  house,  and  a  bath-room,  or  child's 
bedroom,  or  nursery,  in  the  wing,  with  a  private  door 
opening  from  the  family  bedroom,  so  as  to  be  conven- 
ient of  access  without  traversing  the  hall  and  passage. 
A  servants'  bedroom  is  also  arranged  in  the  wing.  A 
pleasant  little  bedroom,  or  study,  is  prepared  for  in 
the  tower,  and  a  number  of  rooms  may  be  finished  off 
in  the  attic,  if  thought  advisable.  The  house  is  pro- 
posed to  be  built  in  a  situation  where  it  will  have  a 
background  of  fine  trees,  as  seen  from  the  main  road ; 
and  while  the  home  scenery  is  pleasantly  varied,  an 
extensive  panoramic  view  is  obtained  from  the  upper 
part  of  the  house.  A  tower  has  therefore  been  intro- 
duced to  command  this  outlook;  and  to  give  a  more 
marked  character  to  the  design,  its  roof  has  been  some- 
what curved,  so  that  it  may  group  easily  with  the  trees 
in  its  vicinity.  A  two-story  bay-window,  it  will  be 
seen,  is  introduced  in  the  design.  This  is  illustrated 
in  detail  in  the  opening  chapter.  This  study  admits 
of  many  changes,  without  altering  its  main  features, 


/ 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES.  285 

and  it  could  be  easily  made  to  suit  a  stone  or  brick 
construction,  if  preferred. 

To  any  one  who  is  interested  in  the  progress  of  ru- 
ral architecture,  it  must  be  encouraging  to  remark  how 
universal  is  the  tendency  now  to  build  comfortable  res- 
idences in  the  environs  of  all  our  large  towns  and  cit- 
ies. The  love  of  peace  and  quietness,  and  of  unaffect- 
ed domestic  life,  that  is  indicated  by  this  increasing 
taste  for  suburban  houses  and  cottage  residences,  shows 
that  it  only  requires  a  little  more  progress  in  artistic 
perception,  and  a  little  more  appreciation  of  the  very 
great  advantage,  to  all  parties,  that  attends  study  and 
forethought  in  building,  to  enamel  the  surface  of  this 
country  with  really  beautiful  rural  homes.  And  a 
not  distant  future  is,  I  hope,  destined  to  show  that  all 
the  liberal  arts  may  flourish  in  this  free  republic  at 
least  as  well  as  under  the  more  despotic  governments 
of  the  elder  continent.  This  great  step  in  advance 
might  be  taken  in  the  New  England  States,  perhaps, 
more  easily  than  in  any  of  the  others ;  for  the  indus- 
try, the  thrift,  and  the  almost  universal  prosperity 
that  are  such  leading  characteristics  of  the  people,  all 
point  distinctly  to  genuine  refinement  in  private  life, 
and  to  a  progressive  spirit  of  unpretending  elegance 
that,  in  an  enlightened  Christian  community,  should 
preside  habitually  over  every  thing  that  appertains  to 
the  idea  of  "home." 


The  vignette  shows  a  design  for  an  entrance  gate 
and  piers  prepared  for  Mr.  David  Moore,  of  New- 
burgh,  and  erected  by  him  a  few  years  ago.  The  plan 
of  the  grounds  is  illustrated  in  the  vignette  to  Design 


286 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


No.  18,  and  as  the  lot  occurs  at  the  intersection  of  two 
cross-roads,  this  gate  was  therefore  placed  at  the  an- 
gle, as  shown  on  the  garden  plan,  for  several  reasons. 
In  the  first  place1  it  gave  a  more  easy  access  to  the 
property  from  every  direction ;  and  in  the  second,  it 
brought  the  gate  into  such  a  position  that  a  large  tree 
on  the  sidewalk  grouped  with  it  agreeably,  and  added 
to  the  importance  of  the  entrance.  It  also  prevented 
the  crowded,  awkward  appearance  that  a  gate  at  the 
extreme  end  of  one  side  would  have  had,  and  gave  the 
angular  view,  which  was,  of  course,  the  longest  one, 
across  the  grounds  to  any  one  passing  or  entering  the 
property.  The  gate  is  a  simple  design  of  wood  and 
iron  work,  a  combination  which  I  am  led  to  think 
may  often  be  used  with  more  advantage  in  rural  arch- 
itecture than  iron  alone,  which,  in  simple,  economical 
forms,  has  a  very  thin  effect,  and,  when  elaborated,  is 
too  suggestive  of  the  town  house  to  be  agreeable  in 
the  country. 


DESIGN  FOE  ENTRANCE-GATE. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES.  287 


DESIGN  No.  27. 

(SEE  FRONTISPIECE.) 

FAMILY  COTTAGE  IX  THE  MOUNTAINS. 

This  study  has  been  prepared  with  reference  to  a 
*  particular  site,  and  appears  to  be  sufficiently  well 
adapted  to  the  present  purpose  of  illustrating  the  gen- 
eral ideas  of  design  that  are  applicable  to  houses  or 
cottages  built  in  mountainous  districts.  The  j)lan  is 
simple,  and  yet  is  not  entirely  symmetrical,  as  decided 
formality  even  in  plan  would  be  out  of  character  with 
the  situation.  The  roof,  on  the  other  hand,  is  both 
simple  and  symmetrical,  although  not  formal,  the  break 
in  the  plan  being  nearly  sufficient  to  give  an  impres- 
sion of  variety  to  the  general  effect  of  the  whole  de- 
sign. 


BASEMENT  ATTIC. 


288 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


It  is  not  desirable  that  the  leading  outlines  of  a 
house  in  such  a  position  should  be  much  broken ;  an 
impression  of  breadth  and  strength  ought  to  be  given 
by  the  general  plan  and  by  the  walls,  and  an  over- 
shadowing, sheltering  effect  should  be  presented  to  the 
eye  by  the  roof.  Self-reliance,  liberality,  simplicity, 
and  humility  must  be  prominent  characteristics  in  any 
family  that  spends  even  a  few  summer  months  suc- 
cessfully in  a  mountain  home  ;  and  if  such  a  residence 
is  to  be  specially  adapted  to  its  surroundings,  it  must 
in  some  way  or  other  be  suggestive  of  these  ideas. 


The  vignette  illustrates  a  design  for  a  rustic  bridge 
that  has  been  carried  into  execution  in  that  part  of  the 
Central  Park  in  New  York  which  is  called  the  Ram- 
ble. 


DESIGN  No.  28.— (F.  C.  W.) 


PLAN  OF  PRINCIPAL  FLOOB. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


291 


DESIGN  No.  28. 

(F.  C.  W.) 

STONE  COUNTRY  HOUSE  WITH  BRICK  DRESSINGS. 

This  design  illustrates,  so  far  as  can  be  done  by  an 
engraving,  the  effect  that  may  be  produced  by  the  use 
of  rough  stone  for  the  general  building  material,  and 
of  brick  for  the  quoins  and  dressings  generally. 

Not  having  yet  had  an  opportunity  to  construct  a 
country  house  in  this  manner,  although  an  admirer 
of  the  combination  and  often  recommending  it,  I  have 
requested  my  friend,  Mr.  Withers,  to  allow  me  to  intro- 
duce into  this  work  the  accompanying  picturesque  ex- 
ample, which  was  built  a  few  years  ago,  in  accordance 
with  his  plans,  for  a  gentleman  residing  at  Clinton 
Point,  on  the  Hudson  River. 


PLAN  OF  CHAMBERS. 


292 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


The  vignettes  show  two  designs  for  shaded  seats 
that  have  been  executed  in  the  Central  Park,  New 
York. 


DESIGN  No.  29. 


PBINCIPAL  FLOOE  TIMS, 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


295 


DESIGN  No.  29. 

WOODEN  VILLA  WITH  CURVED  ROOF. 

The  design  for  this  house  is  shown  in  elevation  on 
the  accompanying  page,  which  also  contains  the  plans 
of  principal  and  bedroom  floors. 

In  execution  the  effect  is  of  course  irregular  and 
picturesque,  but  the  geometrical  drawing  will  show 
more  accurately  than  a  perspective  view  the  true  pitch 
that  should  be  given  to  a  roof  of  this  sort, 


BASEMENT  FLAN.  ATTIC  PLAN. 


The  basement  and  attic  plans  are  given  above,  and 
the  design  adopted  for  the  carriage-house  and  stable 
is  shown  below. 

This  house  was  built  of  wood  for  a  gentleman  re- 
siding in  Greenwich,  Conn.,  and  contains  an  amount 
of  accommodation  that  is  in  very  general  request. 


PBONT  ELEVATION. 


PLAN. 


END  ELEVATION. 


296 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


The  vignette  illustrates  a  design  for  a  square  house 
executed  at  Staatsburgh,  on  the  Hudson  River.  The 
arrangement  of  roof  is  somewhat  similar  to  the  one 
just  described.  This  house  contains  five  rooms  on 
principal  floor.  The  bedroom  accommodation  is  lib- 
eral, a  portion  of  the  attic  being  used  for  guests1  rooms, 
and  the  remainder,  which  is  entirely  distinct  from  the 
other  part,  being  set  apart  for  servants.  The  kitchen 
is  in  the  basement. 


SIDE  ELEVATION. 


FEONT  ELEVATION. 


BASEMENT  PLAN. 


ATTIC  PLAN. 


PLAN  OP  PBINCIPAL  FLOOR. 


CHAMBEB  PLAN. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


299 


DESIGN  No.  30. 

(D.  &  V.) 

VILLA  OF  BRICK  AND  STONE. 

This  design  was  prepared  for  Mr.  Matthew  Vassar, 
of  Poughkeepsie,  and  proposed  to  be  erected  at  his 
country  place,  called  Springside,  a  little  to  the  south 
of  the  city.  This  estate,  being  full  of  easy  sweeps  and 
gentle  undulations,  is  somewhat  secluded  and  park- 
like in  its  character,  fine  healthy  trees  being  scattered 
in  groups  and  masses  over  its  whole  extent.  These 
have  been  sparingly  and  judiciously  thinned  out  by 
the  proprietor,  and  the  arrangement  of  the  roads  and 
general  distribution  of  the  grounds  has  been  adapted 
to  the  peculiar  features  of  the  situation.  The  effect 
is  very  rural  and  homelike,  although  a  great  deal 
of  rough  work  has  been  done,  and  it  is  only  a  few 
years  since  the  hand  of  improvement  was  first  laid 
upon  it. 

The  buildings  of  minor  importance  that  have  been 
put  up  on  various  parts  of  the  property  interfere  less 
than  is  often  the  case  with  the  general  result,  each 
having  been  studied  with  some  reference  to  its  posi- 
tion and  artistic  importance  in  the  landscape,  as  well 
as  to  its  more  immediately  useful  purpose.  A  roomy 
coach-house  and  stable  illustrated  in  the  last  edition 
of  Downing's  cottage  residences,  also  a  cottage  for  a 
farmer  and  gardener,  an  ice-house,  an  aviary  and  poul- 
try-yard, an  entrance-lodge,  summer-house  and  arbors, 
and  an  extensive  conservatory  and  vinery  have  been 
erected  from  time  to  time,  and  the  whole  property 


300 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


has  been  thoroughly  drained,  the  surface  being  en- 
riched wherever  it  was  thought  necessary. 

Although  the  property  lies  at  some  distance  from 
the  river,  agreeable  peeps  of  the  gleaming  Hudson 
and  its  beautiful  white  sails  are  gained  here  and  there. 
Still,  it  is  the  bold  horizon  lines,  and  the  broad,  free 
stretches  of  richly-wooded  intermediate  distance  con- 
trasting, and  yet  in  harmony,  with  the  home  land- 
scape, that  gives  the  peculiar  charm  to  the  place.  It 
can,  indeed,  with  difficulty  be  separated  from  its  sur- 
roundings, and  a  mutual  understanding  advantageous 
to  both  seems  to  have  sprung  up  between  Springside 
and  the  scenery  in  its  vicinity. 

In  country  places  of  this  size  it  is  sometimes  thought 
necessary  to  aim  at  increased  artistic  effect  by  a  copious 
introduction  of  architectural  ornaments  at  the  salient 
points  about  the  grounds ;  and  as  the  result  is  seldom 
agreeable,  I  take  the  opportunity  of  extracting  from 
the  u  Suburban  Gardener"  a  few  remarks  on  the  sub- 
ject that  seem  to  be  worthy  of  attention:  "Architect- 
ural ornaments,  such  as  vases,  statues,  etc.,  water  in 
different  forms,  pieces  of  rock-work,  and  other  objects 
of  the  like  kind,  form  sources  for  varying  the  views 
from  the  walks  of  a  country  place ;  but  architectural 
ornaments  ought  to  be  very  sparingly  introduced  at  a 
distance  from  the  house,  in  gardens  in  any  style,  but 
more  especially  in  such  as  are  laid  out  in  the  irregular 
or  modern  manner.  When  mixed  up  with  groups  of 
flowers  and  shrubs,  they  divide  the  attention  between 
the  beauties  of  art  and  the  beauties  of  nature ;  and  as 
the  mind  can  only  attend  to  one  sensation,  and  experi- 
ence one  emotion  of  pleasure  at  a  time,  it  becomes  dis- 
tracted among  so  many.  The  true  situation  for  stat- 
ues is  on  an  architectural  terrace,  or  in  an  architect- 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


301 


ural  flower-garden  adjoining  the  house,  the  conserva- 
tory, or  some  other  structure  in  which  architecture  and 
sculpture  are  the  main  features,  and  flowers  and  vege- 
tation are  altogether  subordinate." 

The  house  is  approached  through  a  porch  connect- 
ing two  verandas,  which  thus  afford  a  lengthened  cov- 
ered promenade.  The  principal  hall,  seventeen  feet 
square,  with  windows  commanding  an  agreeable  view, 
is  intended  to  be  somewhat  more  than  a  mere  hall, 
and  is  designed  with  recesses  on  three  sides,  in  which 
easy,  simple  lounges  might  be  fitted,  so  that  this  hall, 
which  is  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  house,  could  be 
used  as  a  cool  morning-room  in  summer,  if  desired. 
The  drawing-room  opens  from  the  hall,  and  is  con- 
nected by  folding  doors  with  the  library,  which  has  a 
separate  approach  from  the  inner  hall,  and  thus,  when 
the  folding  doors  are  closed,  is  private  and  retired. 
The  dining-room  is  disconnected  with  the  other  apart- 
ments, and  communicates  with  the  servants'  offices 
through  a  roomy  pantry.  There  is  a  private  garden 
entrance,  with  a  gentlemen's  dressing-room  and  water- 
closet  in  close  proximity  to  it.  The  bedroom  accom- 
modation is  liberal,  but  it  has  not  been  thought  neces- 
sary to  give  the  other  plans. 

This  house  has  been  estimated,  with  simple  interior 
finish,  to  cost  about  $16,000.  It  is  designed  to  be 
built  of  brick,  with  a  free  use  of  brown  stone  for  the 
angles,  the  copings,  and  the  windows  and  other  open- 
ings. The  most  harmonious  arrangement  of  colors 
would  be  a  soft,  reddish  brick,  and  a  brown  stone  of 
as  gray  a  tint  as  could  be  obtained.  The  roofs  are 
intended  to  be  covered  with  greenish-gray  slates,  and 
the  eaves,  veranda,  and  other  outside  wood-work  should 
be  painted  of  a  warm  oak  color.  There  would  thus  be 


302 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


sufficient  variety  of  color  to  accord  with  the  irregular 
outline,  and  the  red  would  have  a  refreshing  effect  in 
a  situation  secluded  and  sheltered  among  rich  green 
trees. 


The  vignettes  show  two  forms  of  window-hoods,  the 
one  adapted  for  stone  construction,  and  the  other  for 
wood.  I  am  not  aware  of  any  existing  example  in 
the  United  States  of  a  window-hood  constructed  of 
stone ;  but  there  does  not  seem  to  be  any  sufficient 
reason  why  this  method  of  obtaining  a  picturesque 
variety  of  light  and  shadow  should  be  executed  only 
in  inferior  materials,  and  in  Design  No.  33,  prepared 
for  a  gentleman  residing  in  Worcester,  it  is  proposed 
to  construct  the  window-hoods  of  brown  stone,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  study  here  illustrated. 


STONE 


HOOP. 


WOODEN  HOOD. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


305 


DESIGN  No.  31. 

PICTURESQUE  STONE  COUNTRY  HOUSE. 

This  design  has  been  carried  into  execution  for  a 
gentleman  residing  at  Staatsburgh,  on  the  Hudson 
River.  The  estate  is  of  considerable  extent,  the  drive- 
road,  as  it  passes  the  house,  being  perhaps  a  third  of 
a  mile  from  the  entrance  to  the  grounds.  Still  the 
actual  building  spot  is  somewhat  limited  in  size,  be- 
cause it  was  necessary  to  select  an  elevated  situation 
commanding  the  best  views,  and  this  happened  to  oc- 
cur in  a  part  of  the  property  which  was  not  only  very 
varied  in  surface,  but  entirely  covered  by  a  handsome 
growth  of  trees,  which  it  was  desirable  to  preserve 
uninjured  as  far  as  was  compatible  with  a  convenient 
arrangement  of  the  plan.  After  much  examination 
of  the  different  parts  of  the  property,  and  due  deliber- 
ation pro  and  con,  for  there  were  many  points  to  be 


discussed,  the  site  that  seemed  the  most  appropriate 
was  ultimately  determined  on,  and  it  then  became  a 
question  how  to  suit  the  design  of  the  house  to  the 
formation  of  the  ground,  and,  so  far  as  might  be  nec- 
essary, to  adapt  the  site  to  the  house.  It  seemed 
proper  to  make  the  plan  nearly  square,  and  without  a 


306 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


wing,  for  several  reasons.  In  the  first  place,  a  suffi- 
ciently extensive  arrangement  for  kitchen  offices  above 
ground  would  have  rendered  it  necessary  to  cut  down 
several  more  of  the  trees,  and  this,  as  above  remarked, 
was  to  be  avoided,  if  possible.  In  the  second  place,  a 
wing  must  have  blocked  up  the  west  or  north  views, 
which  command  the  river,  and  are  in  every  respect 
delightful ;  or  otherwise,  as  it  could  not  come  on  the 
south  or  entrance  front,  it  must  have  been  placed  on 
the  east,  which  is  the  first  seen,  and  the  most  promi- 
nent at  all  times  from  the  approach  road.  The  ground 
was  so  irregular  and  broken,  moreover,  that  it  seemed 
judicious  to  aim  at  a  varied  outline  and  picturesque 
effect  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  house,  rather 
than  to  attempt  smooth  extents  of  lawn  on  a  level,  or 
nearly  so,  with  the  principal  floor,  for  this  would  have 
still  farther  increased  the  expense  for  filling  in  and 
grading,  which  must,  under  any  circumstances,  be 
large  in  such  a  situation.  Taken  altogether,  it  would 
probably  be  difficult  to  find  a  building  spot  better 
suited  to  illustrate  the  propriety  of  sometimes  design- 
ing a  country  house  with  a  basement  kitchen.  Mere 
economy  is  always  in  favor  of  this  arrangement ;  but 
on  level  ground,  unless  the  principal  floor  is  stilted 
up  some  distance  from  the  surface,  the  rooms  in  the 
basement  will  be  dull,  dark,  and  cheerless. 

This  house  is  built  of  blue  stone  taken  from  a  quarry 
a  few  hundred  yards  from  the  building  site,  the  stones 
being  of  various  sizes  and  comparatively  rough — the 
quoins,  the  dressings  to  the  windows,  the  porch,  and 
some  few  ornamental  features  being  carefully  executed 
in  brown  stone,  all  laid  on  its  natural  bed.  The  point- 
ing mortar  used  in  this  building  was  specified  to  be 
of  a  dark  red,  so  that  by  means  of  this  warm  color  in 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES.  307 

the  mortar  joints,  the  cold  and  sombre  tint  of  the  blue 
stone  should  be  modified  as  far  as  possible,  and  made 
to  harmonize  with  the  cheerful  character  of  the  rest 
of  the  house.  In  ten  or  twelve  years  this  blue  stone 
will  begin  to  change  its  hue,  and  then  every  month 
will  add  new  beauty  to  its  color.  This  kind  of  stone 
is  undoubtedly  most  harsh  and  monotonous  in  appear- 
ance when  first  taken  from  the  quarry,  but  after  about 
fifteen  years  of  exposure  it  assumes  a  delicate,  lumin- 
ous gray  tint,  each  stone  differing  just  so  much  from 
the  one  next  to  it  as  to  give  life  and  brilliancy  to  the 
general  effect  in  the  sunlight.  When  this  point  is 
once  arrived  at,  it  is  unrivaled  as  a  building  material, 
being  as  durable  as  granite,  and,  in  connection  with 
landscape,  far  more  beautiful  in  color  than  any  brown 
stone,  marble,  or  brick. 

The  plan  may  be  thus  described :  A  porch  connect- 
ing two  verandas  opens  on  to  a  vestibule  and  hall 
which  gives  access  to  library,  drawing-room,  dining- 
room,  billiard -room,  and  principal  staircase.  The 
rooms  are  all  disconnected  in  accordance  with  the  in- 
structions of  the  proprietor.  The  vestibule  is  fitted 
with  permanent  seats,  and  a  terrace  extends  round 
two  sides  of  the  house.  This  terrace  is  covered  by  a 
large  hood  extending  over  it  some  eight  or  nine  feet 
in  front  of  one  window  in  the  billiard-room  and  one 
in  the  drawing-room,  and  reaching  down  to  within 
seven  feet  of  the  floor.  The  shade  that  would  be  af- 
forded by  a  veranda  is  thus  obtained  on  this  side  of 
the  house  without  there  being  any  posts  to  interfere 
with  the  view  from  the  windows.  In  the  dining-room 
is  a  large  bay-window  recess,  and  the  ceiling  is  so  de- 
signed that  this  recess  forms  part  of  the  room,  and 
adds  much  to  the  apparent  length  of  the  house  in  this 


308 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


direction;  it  also  increases  very  materially  the  avail- 
able space  for  attendance  on  the  dinner-table.  The 
pantry  is  of  large  size,  and  is  fitted  with  various  con- 
veniences, including  a  lift  from  the  kitchen,  several 
closets,  and  a  sink. 

The  billiard-room  is  so  planned  that  a  full  eighteen 
feet  is  obtained  in  the  clear  of  the  fire-place  and  walls 
in  the  narrowest  part.  The  two  side  windows  open 
to  the  floor,  so  as  to  afford  access  to  the  terrace,  and 
there  is  a  closet  for  cues,  etc.  The  drawing-room  is  a 
handsome  apartment,  18x24,  opening  on  to  the  ter- 
race and  veranda.  The  library  was  originally  designed 
to  be  finished  with  book-cases  in  the  angles,  and  sub- 
sequently, at  the  owners  request,  I  furnished  him  with 
a  plan  for  an  ornamental  ceiling,  and  a  suitable  de- 
sign for  furnishing  the  whole  room  with  continuous 
book-cases  and  oak  fire-place,  thus  carrying  out  the 
original  intention  in  a  more  complete  manner.  There 
is  a  side  entrance  under  the  landing  of  principal  stair- 
case, and  connected  with  this  is  a  dressing-room  and 
water-closet.  A  cloak-closet  is  also  planned  near  here, 
and  a  lift  to  bring  coal,  etc.,  from  the  basement  to  this 
floor  and  the  floor  above.  The  plan  is  so  arranged 
that  the  flue  of  the  kitchen  fire-place,  which  is  under 
the  dining-room,  is  carried  away  behind  the  closet  in 
pantry,  so  that  it  may  not  heat  the  room  unpleasantly 
during  the  summer  months.  A  servants'  staircase  was 
thought  unnecessary  by  the  proprietor,  as  the  principal 
flight  is  inclosed  from  the  main  rooms. 

In  the  chamber  plan  will  be  found  two  large  bed- 
rooms, a  dressing-room,  a  linen-closet,  a  house-maid's 
sink,  a  bath-room  and  water-closet,  and  a  nursery 
14x18.  The  upper  hall  opening  on  to  these  rooms 
is  amply  lighted,  and  is  roomy  and  open,  which  is  a 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


309 


great  desideratum  in  the  country,  provided  it  can  be 
obtained  without  a  sacrifice  of  privacy. 

In  the  attic  will  be  found  two  spare  bedrooms,  en- 
tered near  the  head  of  the  stairs,  and  shut  off  from 
the  attic  hall,  which  communicates  with  three  serv- 
ants1 rooms  and  a  garret. 

The  greater  part  of  the  basement  is  finished  off,  and 
supplies  kitchens,  sink-room,  servants1  bedroom,  pan- 
try, wine-cellar,  coal-cellar,  and  furnace-room. 

A  contract  of  $13,200  was  made  for  this  house  com- 
plete, ready  for  occupation,  and  with  a  simple,  sub- 
stantial finish  throughout.  This,  however,  is  exclu- 
sive of  the  cistern  and  drains,  the  hauling  and  the 
right  of  quarry,  all  of  which  were  furnished  by  the 
owner,  and  not  calculated  for  in  the  estimate.  All 
other  items,  such  as  painting,  ranges  and  grates,  fur- 
nace, etc.,  are  included. 


The  vignette  represents  a  study  for  a  simple  cot- 
tage, designed  as  a  residence  for  men  employed  on  the 
farm  and  in  other  operations  about  the  estate.  The 
cottage  is  in  full  view  from  the  principal  drive-road, 
and  it  therefore  seemed  worth  while  to  consider  it  as 
an  accessory  in  the  landscape  as  well  as  a  convenient 
home  for  those  who  were  to  live  in  it.  The  other 
side  of  the  house  showing  the  veranda  would  probably 
have  offered  a  more  picturesque  view,  but  the  vignette 
will  serve  to  give  a  general  idea  of  the  simple  effect 
aimed  at.  The  basement,  entered  from  a  door  on  the 
outside,  as  shown  on  the  sketch,  was  designed  to  be 
fitted  up,  for  the  use  of  the  family,  as  a  wash-room, 
and  to  be  provided  with  drying-closet,  ironing-room, 


310 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


etc.  The  principal  floor  explains  itself,  the  two  bed- 
rooms below  being  for  the  housekeeper's  use,  and  the 
chamber  plan  above,  containing  three  roomy  bedrooms, 
being  set  apart  for  the  us^of  the  men.  Such  a  cot- 
tage, with  the  basement  finished  off,  should  cost  about 
$1400  or  $1500.  In  this  instance  the  outlay  was  in- 
creased, from  various  causes,  to  $1800. 


DESIGN  FOR  A  FARM  COTTAGE, 


6— — — o 
PLAN  OF  PRINCIPAL  FLOOR. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES 


313 


DESIGN  No.  32. 

AN  IRREGULAR  VILLA  WITHOUT  WING. 

This  study  has  been  prepared  in  detail  for  a  gentle- 
man residing  at  Millville,  Mass.,  and  is  proposed  to 
be  erected  in  Connecticut  on  a  beautiful  suburban  site, 
several  acres  in  extent,  on  the  outskirts  of  Middletown, 
which  is  unquestionably  one  of  the  most  pleasant  and 
attractive  neighborhoods  in  which  to  build  a  country 
seat  to  be  found  in  the  Eastern  States.  Middletown 
is  not  a  remarkably  large  place,  but  it  possesses  a 
cheerful  and  very  fascinating  rural  character,  that  is 
to  be  attributed,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the  attention 
that  has  been  bestowed,  from  time  to  time,  to  plant- 
ing in  the  streets  and  avenues.  Fortunately,  also, 
a  judicious  selection  of  specimens  has  been  made  in 
the  first  instance,  which  is  not  always  the  case,  and 


PLAN  OF  CHAMBERS. 


the  result  is  that  the  transient  visitor  can  hardly  fail 
to  be  struck  with  the  number  of  fine,  flourishing  speci- 
mens of  the  different  varieties  of  shade  trees  that  court 
his  attention  when  passing  through  the  various  ave- 
nues.   It  is  related  of  Coleridge,  that  once,  when  he 


314 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


happened  to  find,  in  a  small  house  in  an  out-of-the-way 
place  in  the  country,  a  well-thumbed  copy  of  one  of  his 
poems,  he  held  it  up  and  said,  with  real  satisfaction, 
"This  is  fame;"  and  the  first  planters  of  trees  on  a 
liberal  scale  in  Middletown  might,  with  equal  satisfac- 
tion, rejoice  in  the  palpable  evidence  afforded  by  the 
present  aspect  of  the  place  of  the  success  of  their  in- 
fluence, for  they  have,  without  doubt,  been  mainly  in- 
strumental in  giving  to  the  whole  town  that  refined 
rural  character  that  makes  it  now  so  desirable  a  place 
of  residence. 

The  site  on  which  this  villa  is  to  be  erected  is  a 
choice  spot  in  the  pleasantest  part  of  the  suburbs,  and 
consists  of  several  acres  commanding  beautiful  views 
of  richly-wooded  hill  and  dale.  The  drawing-room 
side  of  the  house  looks  over  a  dip  in  the  intervening 
ground  to  the  Connecticut  River  in  the  distance, 
which  will  also  be  seen  from  two  or  three  other  points 
about  the  house,  and  will  come  in  pleasantly  in  con- 
nection with  the  home  landscape  in  walking  about 
the  grounds.  Still,  the  principal  river  view,  when  the 
trees  are  grown,  will  always  be  from  the  drawing- 
room  windows.  The  owner  has  interested  himself  for 
a  year  or  two  past  in  grading  and  preparing  the  site 
for  the  house,  and,  in  accordance  with  a  carefully  con- 
sidered plan,  has  laid  out  the  roads  and  lawns,  and 
planted  fine  young  thrifty  trees  where  they  will  be 
required  to  help  the  general  effect.  A  wide  high-road 
passes  in  front  of  the  property,  and  there  is  a  section 
of  open  ground  in  front  of  it  of  irregular  shape,  bound- 
ed by  a  more  private  road  that  branches  out  of  the 
main  avenue  to  several  country  places,  and  then,  after 
making  a  circuit  of  a  few  hundred  yards,  returns  agafti 
into  the  highway.    This  plot  of  ground  will  probably 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES.  315 

be  planted  at  some  time  or  other,  by  subscription,  as 
a  little  park  for  public  accommodation ;  and  if  this  is 
done,  it  will  add  another  marked  feature  of  interest  to 
this  improving  neighborhood. 

The  plan  consists  of  a  large  open  porch,  that  is  de- 
signed in  connection  with  the  principal  gable  of  the 
elevation,  and  is  so  planned  that  it  forms  a  continua- 
tion to  a  wide  veranda  on  the  dining-room  side  of  the 
house.  The  hall,  which  is  arranged  to  have  recesses 
for  sculpture  or  casts  on  each  side  of  the  main  en- 
trance, opens  on  to  the  morning-room,  the  drawing- 
room,  the  library,  the  dining-room,  and  the  principal 
staircase  hall.  The  morning -room  is  a  handsome 
apartment,  eighteen  feet  wide,  with  an  ornamental  ar- 
rangement of  the  corners  of  the  room,  and  a  bay-win- 
dow. It  also  communicates,  through  folding-doors, 
with  the  drawing-room,  so  that  the  two  rooms  can  be 
thrown  open  together  in  the  summer,  if  preferred. 
The  drawing-room  has  also  a  large  bay-window  and 
door  to  the  library.  Both  the  morning-room  and  the 
drawing-room  open  into  a  large  veranda,  or  pavilion, 
that  is  a  principal  feature  in  the  design,  and  one,  it  is 
thought,  that  would  add  much  to  its  desirability  as  a 
summer  residence.  The  library  is  a  room  of  moderate 
size,  with  recessed  book-cases  and  a  bay-window,  de- 
signed to  group  in  connection  with  the  drawing-room 
bay.  This  part  of  the  design  is  illustrated  in  detail  at 
page  97  of  the  opening  chapter. 

The  dining-room  is  a  large  room,  entered  from  the 
principal  hall,  and  also  from  the  main  staircase.  A 
circular  plant-cabinet,  with  an  external  access  for  the 
gardener,  is  arranged  to  be  entered  from  this  room 
tht ough  sliding  glass  doors,  the  glass  being  a  little  or- 
namented, but  not  so  much  so  as  to  obscure  the  view 


316 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


of  the  various-colored  flowers  from  the  interior  of  the 
apartment.  There  is  also  a  door  to  a  butler's  pantry 
that  communicates  with  the  kitchen  offices,  the  arrange- 
ment of  which  will  be  readily  understood  from  the  plan. 

In  the  chamber  plan  will  be  found  a  range  of  bed- 
rooms and  dressing-rooms,  with  bath-room  and  water- 
closet,  servants'  staircase,  and  two  servants'  bedrooms 
over  the  kitchen.  In  the  attic  are  two  or  three  bed- 
rooms, but  the  larger  part  of  the  space  is  proposed  to 
be  occupied  as  an  open  garret. 

This  house  is  proposed  to  be  built,  by  the  day,  of 
brick,  painted,  the  verandas,  etc. ,  to  be  of  wood ;  and 
it  is  calculated  to  cost  about  $14,000  or  $15,000,  fin- 
ished in  a  simple  but  substantial  manner. 


The  vignette  illustrates  a  design  for  a  small  bath 
and  boat  house  made  for  Mr.  C.  H.  Rogers,  and  pro- 
posed to  be  executed  by  him  at  his  country  place  at 
Ravenswood,  Long  Island,  the  lawn  of  which  contin- 
ues from  the  house  to  the  water's  edge,  with  a  some- 
what rapid  fall  as  it  approaches  the  river,  so  that 
probably  a  portion  of  the  roof  only  of  this  little  build- 
ing would  be  visible  from  the  house. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


319 


DESIGN  No.  33 

(V.&.W) 

PICTURESQUE  VILLA  WITH  WING-  AND  ATTICS. 

This  design  has  been  fully  prepared  in  detail  for  a 
gentleman  residing  in  Worcester,  Mass.,  and  it  is  to 
be  executed,  by  day's  work,  in  brick  and  brown  stone, 
with  wooden  trimmings  to  the  roofs,  bays,  verandas, 
etc.  The  roof  is  intended  to  be  covered  with  green 
and  purple  slates,  arranged  as  shown  on  the  perspec- 
tive view.  The  plan,  which  is  on  a  liberal  scale,  may 
be  thus  described:  The  principal  entrance  is  formed 
by  a  recessed  porch,  which  has  been  designed  in  con- 
nection with  a  gabled  projection  and  a  hooded  bal- 
cony over  the  main  arch,  so  as  to  give  due  prominence 
to  this  part  of  the  design.  The  hall  connects  with  a 
drawing-room,  a  library,  a  dining-room,  a  reception- 
room,  and  a  main  staircase.  The  principal  rooms 
communicate  with  each  other.  The  library  and  draw- 
ing-room have  access  to  a  plant-cabinet  and  terrace, 
and  the  library  and  dining-room  open  on  to  a  veranda. 
The  pantry  arrangements  are  more  than  usually  roomy 
and  complete,  as  the  proprietor  wras  desirous  that  this 
part  of  the  plan  should  not  be  in  any  way  cramped  or 
restricted.  There  is  a  small  veranda  over  a  garden- 
entrance,  which  has  a  dressing-room  near  it,  and  which 
can  be  reached  from  the  principal  staircase  hall.  A 
large  kitchen  and  wash-room,  with  a  store-room  and 
pantry,  complete  the  accommodation  on  this  floor. 

The  chamber  plan  supplies  five  large  bedrooms,  a 
dressing-room,  a  bath-room,  and  a  linen-closet  in  the 


320 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


main  body  of  the  house,  and  three  inferior  bedrooms 
are  provided  in  the  wing.  The  attic  may  contain  quite 
a  number  of  chambers,  if  required,  but  it  is  not  pro- 
posed at  present  to  finish  off  more  than  one  or  two 
bedrooms  for  servants.  In  the  working  plans  the  li- 
brary is  shown  to  be  divided,  by  a  partition,  into  li- 
brary and  study,  in  accordance  with  particular  instruc- 
tions, but  the  more  simple  arrangement  shown  here 
would,  I  think,  be  preferred  by  most  persons. 


The  vignette  illustrates  the  kitchen  wing  and  the 
rear  of  the  house,  and  will  serve  to  show  the  way  in 
which  this  part  of  the  design  is  intended  to  be  com- 
posed. 


BEAR  VIEW. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


323 


DESIGN  No.  34. 

(V.  &  W.) 

A  TOWN  HOUSE. 

This  house,  which  is  introduced  as  a  contrast  to  the 
other  designs  in  the  book,  has  been  executed  in  Fifth 
Avenue,  New  York,  on  a  valuable  lot,  25  feet  wide,  ad- 
joining the  grounds  occupied  by  the  Church  of  the  As- 
cension. The  situation  for  the  house  being  thus  unin- 
closed  on  three  sides,  it  is  more  open  and  airy  than  is 
the  case  in  the  majority  of  house  lots  of  ordinary  width 
in  New  York,  and  it  is,  at  the  same  time,  free  from  the 
exposure  and  the  extra  expenses,  such  as  paving,  etc., 
that  are  involved  in  the  occupation  of  a  corner  lot. 
It,  of  course,  overlooks  the  green  sward  and  shrubbery 
that  have  been  laid  out  round  the  church,  and  thus, 
in  connection  with  its  own  front  garden,  it  may  be  so 
arranged  as  to  avoid,  in  some  measure,  the  stiffness 
and  formality  that  are  characteristic  of  most  town 
houses,  and  the  design  may,  without  impropriety,  aim 
at  some  picturesqueness  of  effect  in  the  arrangement 
of  the  roof  lines,  which  will  come  prominently  into 
view  from  the  other  side  of  the  street 

The  house  is  proposed  to  be  executed  in  brown  stone 
and  brick.  The  basement  will  be  of  brown  stone,  the 
walls  of  the  principal  floor  being  carried  up  with  courses 
of  brick  and  stone  alternately,  and  the  walls  above  prin- 
cipal story  being  of  Philadelphia  face-brick  of  superior 
quality,  with  brown  stone  window  architraves,  hoods, 
string  courses,  and  chimney-caps. 

The  principal  floor  contains  a  vestibule,  hall,  stair- 


324 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


case,  drawing-room,  library,  and  dining-room,  with  pan- 
try, and  back  staircase  to  the  basement  and  chambers. 

The  dining-room  is  proposed  to  be  terminated  by  a 
large  recess,  which  is  to  be  glazed  and  fitted  up  with 
a  stand  for  flowers,  or  a  handsome  vase  and  small 
fountain,  if  preferred.  There  is  a  peculiarity  in  the 
arrangement  of  this  part  of  the  design  which  may  be 
mentioned  here.  The  pantry,  as  well  as  the  recess, 
projects  from  the  main  body  of  the  house,  for  a  valu- 
able addition  to  the  convenience  of  the  principal  floor 
accommodation  is  thus  gained  at  a  comparatively  small 
cost;  but  the  windows  on  the  north,  or  pantry  side  of 
the  semicircle  would,  by  this  arrangement,  be  blocked 
up  altogether,  unless  some  plan  like  the  one  illustrated 
had  been  adopted.  This  sash  and  the  one  opposite 
to  it  is  glazed  with  ornamental  glass,  the  two  central 
openings  being  left  with  clear  plate-glass,  as  there  hap- 
pens to  be  a  pleasant  vista  view  of  adjoining  gardens 
from  the  rear  of  the  house.  A  partition  is  set  up  in 
the  pantry  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees  opposite 
the  sash,  and  a  glazed  opening  is  introduced  in  the 
outer  wall  of  pantry  in  the  triangular  space  thus  shut 
off,  as  shown  on  the  plan.  The  inner  face  of  the  par- 
tition is  to  be  covered  with  bright  tin,  and  the  result 
will  be  that  ample  light  will  be  reflected  into  the  din- 
ing-room recess  through  this  sash,  and  no  disagreeable 
effect  will  be  produced  on  the  design  by  the  convenient 
extension  of  the  pantry. 

The  bay-window  in  the  library,  which  is  shown  on 
the  drawing,  is  not  included  in  the  working  plans  of 
the  house,  but  can  be.  added  at  any  time,  if  approved. 
It  would  give  a  desirable  relief  to  th£  straight,  unin- 
teresting wall  adjoining  the  church  lot,  and  would  fur- 
nish the  middle  room  with  a  little  extra  width  and  a 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


325 


pleasant  angular  view  of  the  avenue.  The  principal 
staircase  is  designed  with  a  landing  in  the  middle  of 
the  first  flight,  so  as  to  make  the  ascent  more  easy  and 
agreeable ;  and  a  staircase  shut  off  by  a  door  under- 
neath this  landing  leads  to  a  fine  room  in  the  front 
basement  that  is  intended  to  be  used  as  a  study. 

The  kitchen  and  other  offices  are  on  the  basement 
floor,  and  there  is  a  sub-cellar  under  the  whole  house. 

In  the  chamber  plan  an  effort  has  been  made  to  get 
clear  of  lobbies  and  passages,  and  dark  entrances  to 
bedrooms  ;  and  it  will  be  seen  that  by  giving  a  curved 
line  to  each  end  of  the  partition  that  is  planned  in  the 
central  part  of  the  house,  a  much  larger  landing  than 
can  otherwise  be  obtained  is  supplied  at  the  head  and 
foot  of  the  staircase  (where  it  is  most  needed),  and  the 
three  principal  bedrooms  are  entered  through  doors 
opening  directly  from  the  main  hall  on  each  floor. 
There  are  two  bath-rooms  on  this  floor,  and  two  in  the 
floor  above,  which  is  nearly  the  same  in  plan.  The 
attic  supplies  a  number  of  roomy  chambers,  and  a 
large  skylight  to  the  main  staircase.  This  house  was 
carefully  built  throughout  by  day's  work,  and  cost 
about  $30,000  properly  finished. 


The  vignette  shows  a  design  for  a  country  house, 
for  which  the  cellar  is  now  being  excavated,  and  which 
will  probably  cost  about  the  same  amount  as  the  town 
house  just  described.  It  has  been  prepared  in  detail 
for  execution  by  a  gentleman  in  Orange  County,  New 
York,  and  is  to  be  built  on  a  site  commanding  extens- 
ive views  of  the  Hudson.  A  carriage  porch  leads  to  a 
vestibule  and  octangular  hall,  which  gives  access  to  the 


326 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


drawing-room  and  dining-room,  and  to  a  billiard-room 
and  library,  which  are  separate  from  the  other  rooms. 
The  kitchen  wing  is  roomy,  and  the  bedroom  accom- 
modation is  on  a  liberal  scale,  as  will  be  seen  from 
the  chamber  plan.  The  exterior  is  quite  simply  de- 
signed, as  it  must  necessarily  be  in  a  house  of  this 
size  that  is  to  be  built  for  a  moderate  estimate.  The 
house  is  proposed  to  be  constructed  with  hollow  walls, 
faced  with  a  fair  quality  of  brick,  and  relieved  by  a 
sparing  introduction  of  brown  stone  where  it  is  most 
required  to  carry  out  the  idea  of  the  design. 


PLAN  ofPRINCIPAL  FLOOR.  PLAN  of  CHAMBER  FLOOR. 


DESIGN  No.  35.— (D.  &  V.) 


FEONT  FACING  THE  SEA, 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


329 


DESIGN  No.  35. 

(D.  &  V.) 

MARINE  VILLA. 

This  design  was  erected  for  a  gentleman  residing  at 
Newport,  Rhode  Island.  It  was  built  of  brick  and 
brown  stone,  and  contracted  for,  including  painting  and 
plumbing,  at  a  little  under  $20,000. 

It  was  prepared  for  a  fine  situation,  commanding  an 
uninterrupted  view  of  the  sea,  and  including  several 
acres  of  ornamental  ground,  that  have  been  well  laid  out 
and  planted  under  the  superintendence  of  an  experi- 
enced landscape  gardener.   A  carriage-porch,  of  which 


a  larger  drawing  is  given  on  page  74  of  the  opening 
chapter,  leads  to  a  vestibule  and  main  hall,  that  con- 
tains a  door  to  a  private  morning-room,  and  that  also 
gives  access  to  a  suite  of  three  other  rooms  of  liberal 
size,  consisting  of  drawing-room,  cabinet,  and  dining- 
room.  These  apartments  are  connected  with  each 
other,  and  communicate  with  the  lower  portion  of  a 
*  double  arcade  that  is  introduced  on  the  front  that 
faces  the  sea.  This  arcade  is  illustrated  in  detail  on 
page  99  of  the  opening  chapter.  There  are  bay-win- 
dows to  the  dining-room  and  drawing-room,  and  the 
latter  opens  on  to  a  large  veranda,  or  pavilion,  that  is 


330 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


one  of  the  principal  features  of  the  design.  It  is 
thought  by  some  that  in  the  cool  and  genial  climate 
of  Newport  a  country  house  is  preferable  without  ve- 
randas, and  it  is  certainly  desirable  to  admit  the  sun- 
shine into  all  the  rooms  ;  but  if  a  veranda  is  arranged, 
as  in  the  present  plan,  so  that  every  room  that  opens 
on  to  it  has  also  another  window  through  which  the 
sunshine  can  be  freely  admitted,  the  objection  to  its 
introduction  seems  to  be  avoided,  and  its  manifest  ad- 
vantages are  secured  without  making  the  house  dark 
or  cheerless. 

A  bedroom  is  introduced  on  the  ground  floor  of  the 
wing  near  a  side  entrance,  and  the  chamber  plan  con- 
tains a  number  of  bedrooms  and  dressing-rooms,  the 
servants'  rooms  being  contained  in  the  kitchen  wing. 


The  vignette  illustrates  a  design  for  the  coach-house 
and  stable,  which  was  erected  at  some  little  distance 
from  the  house. 


DESIGH  FOE  A  COACU-IIOUSE  AND  STABLE. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


333 


DESIGN  No.  36. 

IRREGULAR  STONE  VILLA. 

This  house  has  been  erected  at  Fordham,  near  High- 
bridge,  in  the  neighborhood  of  New  York ;  it  is  con- 
structed of  stone  quarried  on  the  immediate  site  of  the 
building,  and  the  quoins  and  other  dressings  are  ex- 
ecuted in  New  Brunswick  stone. 

The  building  material  found  on  the  place  is  of  a 
cool  gray,  and  the  New  Brunswick  stone  is  of  a  soft 
olive  tint ;  the  woodwork  is  painted  to  correspond 
with  the  latter,  and  as  the  roof  is  covered  with  Sus- 
quehanna slate,  the  whole  effect  of  color  is  subdued, 
and  yet  pleasantly  varied. 

The  principal  floor  contains  four  large  rooms  en 
suite,  and  opening  on  to  verandas  and  terraces ;  the 
dining-room  also  connects  with  a  plant  cabinet  or  con- 
servatory. A  school-room  and  children's  dining-room 
are  provided  on  the  other  side  of  the  house,  in  a  con- 
venient position  with  regard  to  the  kitchen  wing. 

The  design  made  for  the  lodge,  which  is  also  the 
gardener's  house,  is  illustrated  below. 


PRINCIPAL  FLOOB.  FHONT  ELEVATION.  CHAMBER  PLAN. 


334 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


A  design  made  for  a  coach-house  and  stable  that 
has  also  been  erected  near  Highbridge,  but  for  a  dif- 
ferent owner,  is  illustrated  below.  The  coach-house  is 
24  feet  by  30  feet,  and  is  so  arranged  that  carriages 
may  be  driven  through  it  when  necessary.  Stabling 
for  five  horses  is  provided,  with  a  passage  in  front  of 
the  horses1  heads  as  well  as  in  the  rear.  A  living 
room  is  provided  for  the  coachman  on  the  main  floor, 
and  two  bedrooms  on  the  floor  above.  An  ample  hay- 
loft is  included  in  the  design,  as  indicated  on  the  plan. 
The  materials  used  were  rough  gray  stone  and  New 
Brunswick  freestone. 


PLAN  OF  PEINCIPAL  FLOOE.  PLAN  OF  LOFTS. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


337 


DESIGN  No.  37. 

(D.  &  V.) 

IRREGULAR  STONE  VILLA  WITH  TOWER. 

This  design,  proposed  to  be  executed  on  a  handsome 
country  place  that  overlooks  the  Hudson,  was  com- 
menced by  Mr.  S.  D.  Dakin  some  years  ago,  but  the 
foundations  were  only  partially  laid  when  the  sudden 
death  of  the  proprietor  put  a  stop  to  the  works.  The 
house  was  to  be  built  of  rough  stone,  with  cut  stone 
dressings  to  the  windows,  and  wherever  else  it  was 
needed,  and  the  whole  plan  was  to  have  been  carried 
out  in  a  handsome  and  expensive  style.  The  same 
general  arrangement  would  admit  of  considerable  va- 
riety in  artistic  treatment,  and  the  exterior  design 
might  be  entirely  changed,  without,  in  any  way,  alter- 
ing the  plan,  which  may  be  thus  described :  A  car- 
riage-porch provides  a  covered  entrance  to  the  main 
hall,  which  is  twenty  feet  square.  This  hall  is  divided, 
architecturally,  by  an  open,  arched  screen,  from  a  wide 
corridor  that  traverses  the  centre  of  the  house,  and 
leads  to  the  various  rooms,  and  to  the  principal  stair- 
case, that  is  lighted  from  above,  and  is  planned  on  a 
liberal  scale. 

The  principal  floor  contains  a  library  opening  on  to 
a  veranda,  and  fitted  with  recessed  book-cases,  and  it 
it  also  supplies  a  suite  of  three  rooms,  consisting  of 
drawing-room,  parlor,  and  dining-room,  and  a  large 
bedroom,  with  dressing-room  and  bath-room  attached. 
In  the  wing  will  be  found  a  butler  s  pantry,  a  house- 
keeper's room,  and  the  kitchen  offices.    The  chamber 

Y 


338 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


floor  contains  bedrooms  and  dressing-rooms,  the  ar- 
rangement of  which  will  be  readily  understood  from 
the  plan. 

Such  a  country  residence  as  this,  economically  fin- 
ished inside,  would  cost  about  $30,000;  and  this  esti- 
mate might  easily  be  doubled  in  carrying  out  the  plan 
of  such  a  large  house  by  adopting  an  elaborate  and 
expensive  style  for  the  external  detail,  and  for  the  in- 
ternal fittings  and  finish  of  the  various  apartments. 


The  vignette  shows  the  plan  of  principal  floor,  and 
the  chamber  plan  of  a  square  house,  that  would  admit 
of  varied  treatment  in  exterior  design.  This  study  has 
been  carefully  worked  out  in  detail,  and  the  plans  and 
specifications  have  been  prepared  for  Mr.  John  W. 
Burt,  of  New  York.  A  recessed  porch  opens  on  to  a 
hall,  8x18,  that  contains  cloak-closets,  and  that  gives 
access  to  the  parlor,  the  dining-room,  the  library,  and 
the  staircase-hall.  The  parlor  and  dining-room  can  be 
thrown  into  one  large  room  at  any  time,  as  there  are 
sliding-doors  of  communication,  and  both  these  rooms 
open  on  to  a  veranda  that  is  octangularly  arranged 
opposite  the  parlor  windows,  so  as  to  give  more  space 
at  this  part,  and  to  add  picturesqueness  to  its  exterior 
outline.  The  library  is  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
hall,  and  is  disconnected  with  any  other  apartment; 
it  is  planned,  however,  with  a  door  opening  on  to  the 
garden-entrance  lobby,  which  is  inclosed  from  the  hall 
under  the  first  landing  of  the  staircase ;  and  as  this 
lobby  also  contains  a  door  to  the  kitchen,  the  library, 
which  has  a  pleasant  aspect  for  a  winter  room,  may, 
if  preferred,  be  used  as  a  breakfast-room  during  the 
colder  months. 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


339 


The  dining-room  pantry  occurs  between  the  dining- 
room  and  the  kitchen,  which  is  in  the  main  body  of 
the  house,  but  arranged,  as  will  be  seen  on  the  plan, 
to  be  quite  shut  off  from  the  living-rooms. 

On  the  bedroom  floor  will  be  found  four  chambers 
of  good  size,  and  one  smaller  sleeping-room,  that  may 
be  used  as  a  dressing-room,  if  preferred ;  also  a  bath- 
room and  water-closet,  and  an  inclosed  staircase  to  the 
attic,  in  which  is  provided  a  linen-press,  a  servants1 
bedroom,  and  one  or  two  agreeable  spare  rooms. 

The  chamber  windows  communicate  with  the  ve- 
randa roofs,  which  are  nearly  flat,  and  are  furnished 
with  a  continuous  railing,  so  as  to  secure  an  open 
promenade  for  the  second  floor  rooms  on  each  side  of 
the  house. 

The  exterior  is  treated  picturesquely,  in  a  simple, 
unpretending  manner,  and  the  house  is  to  be  built  of 
wood,  at  Orange,  New  Jersey,  on  a  pleasant  site  that 
forms  a  portion  of  Llewellyn  Park,  an  estate  of  about 
five  hundred  acres,  which  has  been  lately  taken  in  hand, 
and  judiciously  laid  out  with  lawns  and  drives  by  its 
original  proprietor,  Mr.  Haskell.  This  gentleman,  aft- 
er reserving  in  his  plan  about  fifty  or  sixty  acres  for 
an  ornamental  park,  has  divided  the  remainder  into 
building  lots  of  various  sizes ;  and  as  the  whole  area  is 
inclosed  by  a  boundary  fence,  there  will  be  no  actual 
necessity  for  separate  gates  to  each  section  of  the 
property,  for  the  private  roads  that  will  lead  from 
the  main  drive  to  the  various  country  houses  can  be 
planned  so  as  to  commence  in  each  case  with  a  curved 
line  running  through  a  close  plantation  for  a  short 
distance,  so  as  to  insure  entire  seclusion,  and  thus  the 
trouble  of  opening  and  shutting  gates  may  be  avoided. 

I  have  already  received  instructions  to  prepare  two 


340 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


other  plans  for  houses  to  be  erected  in  Mountain  Park, 
and  this  very  attractive  spot,  which  is  hardly  an  hour's 
ride  from  the  city,  is  undoubtedly  destined  to  be  rapid- 
ly filled  up  with  the  villa  residences  of  gentlemen  who 
carry  on  business  in  New  York.  There  will  be  but  one 
porter's  lodge  to  keep  up,  and  all  annoyances  will  be 
avoided;  while  each  resident,  for  a  small  addition  to 
the  first  cost  of  his  building  lot,  will  hold  a  share  legal- 
ly secured  to  him  in  the  public  park,  that  is  to  be  joint- 
ly held  and  superintended  by  the  owners  of  the  various 
small  estates  that  are  included  within  the  boundaries 
of  Mountain  Park.  The  idea  is  an  excellent  and  truly 
republican  one  in  principle,  and  a  very  few  years  will 
serve  to  show  what  great  advantages  may  result  in 
this  way  from  combined  action  in  landscape  garden- 
ing, if  it  is  wisely  directed  in  the  first  instance. 


PLAN  OF  PRINCIPAL  FLOOR. 


/ 

VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES.  343 


DESIGN  No.  38. 

MARINE  VILLA  WITH  TOWER. 

This  house  has  been  built  of  brick,  with  Nova  Scotia 
stone  dressings,  at  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  on  an  agree- 
able site  overlooking  the  sea.  The  general  arrange- 
ment will  be  readily  understood  from  the  plan  on  the 
opposite  page,  which  provides  on  the  principal  floor  a 
suite  of  five  rooms,  opening  from  a  large  central  hall, 


CIIAMliEE  PLAN.  ATTIC  PLAN. 


BASEMENT  PLAN.  EOOF  PLAN. 


344 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


and  connected  with  verandas  and  terraces,  and  also 
with  a  conservatory.  In  the  chamber  plan,  two  bed- 
rooms, with  dressing-rooms,  a  bathroom,  and  two  other 
bedrooms,  are  grouped  together,  and  separated  from 
the  rest  of  the  accommodations  on  this  floor;  the  lob- 
bies and  passages,  that  would  otherwise  be  dark,  being 
lighted  from  skylights  above  by  wells  marked  L  on 
attic  plan.  The  third  story  contains  four  pleasant 
bedrooms  and  a  bathroom,  and  six  rooms  (entirely 
separate  from  the  main  hall  and  guests'  apartments) 
are  arranged  for  servants.  The  kitchen  accommoda- 
tion is  in  the  basement. 

The  plan  adopted  for  the  carriage-house  and  stable 
is  illustrated  below. 


FKONT  ELEVATION.  BIDE  ELEVATION. 


GENEEAL  PLAN. 


DESIGN  No.  39.— (D.  &  V.) 


{carriage! 

PLAN  OF  PRINCIPAL  FLOOR.        5  porch  j 


/ 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES.  347 


DESIGN  No.  39. 

(D.  &  V.) 

VILLA  ON  A  LAEGE  SCALE. 

This  plan  was  prepared  in  detail  some  time  before 
Mr.  Downing's  death,  in  accordance  with  instructions 
we  received,  but  it  has  not  been  executed.  It  is  more 
extensive  than  is  usually  called  for  in  the  United 
States,  but  may  serve  to  close  our  examples  of  Amer- 
ican villas,  and  to  show  how  a  large  amount  of  ac- 
commodation may  be  arranged  and  combined.  It  was 
intended  to  be  built  of  stone,  on  a  site  commanding  an 
interesting  prospect,  and  that  sloped  off  considerably 
on  one  side.  The  garden  was  therefore  proposed  to  be 
terraced,  as  shown  on  the  perspective  view,  so  as  to 
do  away  with  this  sloping  appearance  in  the  imme- 
diate vicinity  of  the  house,  and  to  furnish  a  level  pla- 
teau on  which  to  build.  It  will  be  seen,  on  reference 
to  the  plan,  that  a  carriage-porch  gives  access  to  an 
inclosed  lobby,  in  which  are  cloak-closets.  This  in- 
closed lobby  leads  into  the  principal  hall,  which  is 
open  on  both  sides,  to  a  wide  corridor,  and  contains  a 
fountain  in  the  centre.  There  is  also  an  open  arcade, 
or  veranda,  in  connection  with  this  principal  hall. 

The  dining-room,  parlor,  drawing-room,  and  library 
are  designed  so  as  to  form  a  continuous  suite  of  large 
rooms,  entered  from  the  main  hall ;  and  a  boudoir, 
that  does  not  connect  with  the  other  apartments,  is 
also  provided  at  one  end  of  the  corridor.  A  large  pa- 
vilion is  planned  at  the  side  of  the  boudoir  and  li- 
brary, and  a  veranda  and  terrace,  that  are  accessible 


348 


VILLAS  AND  COTTAGES. 


from  the  three  other  principal  rooms,  are  designed  on 
the  front  that  commands  the  best  view.  The  pantry 
arrangements  are  on  a  liberal  scale,  and  the  kitchen 
offices  are  extensive.  In  the  wing  of  principal  floor 
will  be  found  a  large  family  bedroom,  with  dressing- 
room  and  bath-room  attached,  and  easily  accessible 
from  the  principal  staircase  hall  and  from  the  serv- 
ants1 department.  It  lias  not  been  thought  necessary 
to  give  the  other  plans  of  this  design,  which  was  cal- 
culated to  cost  about  $60,000  without  any  elaboration 
of  finish. 


The  concluding  vignette  illustrates  a  design  for  a 
grave-stone  erected  in  Newburgh  Cemetery. 


DESIGN  FOB  A  G2AVE-6T0NE. 


No.  1 


No.  2. 


Scale,  one  inch  to  a  foot. 


Patterns  of  Minton's  Tiles  for  Floors, 

FOR  SALE  BY 

MILLER  &  COATES.  279  PEARL  ST.,  NEW  YORK 


5 


GETTY  CENTER  LIBRARY 


3  3125  00772  7510 


GUILLE-ALLES  LIBRARY, 


FOURTEEN  DAYS  is  the  time  allowed  for  keeping  this  Book.  It  may  be 
renewed  <  once,  unless  required  by  another  borrower.  If  such  renewal  is 
desired,  .the  book  must  be  returned  to  the  Librarian  for  that  purpose. 

DAMAGE.— When  returning  a  book,  the  attention  of  the  Librarian  should 
be  drawn  to  any  scribbling  or  damage  noticed  in  it,  in  order  that  such  injury 
may  be  traced  to  its  source. 

CARE  OF  BOOKS. — Books  must  not  be  entrusted  to  children  ;  nor  must 
they  be  exposed  to  rain  in  their  transit  to  or  from  the  Library. 

For  General  Rules  and  Regulations,  see  notice  inside  front  cover. 


GUERNSEY. 


OUER1N,  TYP. 


